Chess Puzzle #2zdl5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop c2; knight h5; pawns c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b7; queen c7; rooks d8/g8; bishops c5/d7; pawns b6/d5/e6/f5/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook g8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen e2→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king b7→b8).
3. Best move: Qa8# — queen a6→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2r1/1kqb4/1p2p3/2bpPppN/8/2P5/2B1QPPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 28

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