Chess Puzzle #23OJk — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g8; rook a1; bishop f6; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c8; rook a8; bishop f1; knight c4; pawns a7/c6/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king e8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king d7→d6).
3. Best move: Qe7# — queen f7→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1q1k1Q1/p4p2/2p1pB2/3p4/2n5/8/P1P2PPP/R4bK1 b q - 1 20

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