Chess Puzzle #26bf6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen b3; rook a1; bishop f7; knight d2; pawns a2/c2/e4/f2/f3. Black: king e8; queen h2; rooks b8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen b3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
3. Best move: Qe8# — queen e6→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r2kbnr/ppp2Bpp/3p4/8/4P3/1Q3P2/P1PNKP1q/R7 b k - 0 14

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