Chess Puzzle #2uHl2 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen h8; rooks d2/h1; bishop h7; knight g5; pawns c5/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen f4; rooks a8/d8; bishop b7; knight g8; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen f4→d2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen h8→g8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2r1knQ/1b3ppB/p3p3/1pP1P1N1/5q2/8/3R1PPP/5K1R b - - 9 27

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