Chess Puzzle #2Irx1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g3; queen d6; bishop f6; pawns a3/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a8; bishop d7; pawns a6/d4/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen a8→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen d6→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Bc8 (bishop d7→c8).
3. Best move: Qxc8# — queen b8→c8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: q3k3/3b1p1p/p2Q1B2/8/3p4/P5K1/5P1P/8 b - - 1 32

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