Chess Puzzle #21dhJ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rook g3; pawns a2/b4/c3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen f4; rook f2; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook f2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen h5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen g6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp4pk/2p4n/7Q/1P1P1q2/2P3RP/P4rPK/8 b - - 0 50

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