Chess Puzzle #2PL2A — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king e3; queen d8; pawns g4/h4. Black: king g6; pawns b2/b5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b1=Q — pawn b2→b1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen d8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g6→h6).
3. Best move: Qh5# — queen e8→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen endgame, short. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3Q4/6pp/5pk1/1p6/6PP/4K3/1p6/8 b - - 0 49

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