Chess Puzzle #29skL — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks b1/b7; pawns a4/e3/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/c8; pawns a5/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen a2→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/1R3pp1/4p2p/p3P3/P6P/4PQ2/q4PP1/1R4K1 b - - 1 25

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