Chess Puzzle #2OPrS — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h3; rooks e4/h1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/c2. Black: king h8; queen g6; rooks a8/f8; pawns a4/c6/c7/d6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen g6→e4, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh7 (queen e4→h7).
3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/2p5/2pp2qp/8/p1B1R3/7Q/PPP5/2K4R b - - 0 26

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