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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook e5; knight g5; pawns b3/c4/f4/g2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks b8/f6; knight g3; pawns c5/d4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb3 — queen b6→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/6pp/1q3r2/2p1R1N1/2Pp1P2/1P1Q2n1/6P1/6K1 b - - 1 33

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