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

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks b1/f1; knights e8/g5; pawns d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/d5; pawns a6/b5/d7/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook h8→e8, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1N2r/2qp1pk1/p1n1p1p1/1p1nP1N1/3P4/7Q/5PPP/1R3RK1 b - - 5 26

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