Chess Puzzle #3UHdB — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rook f1; bishop g2; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/e4/f6/g5/h2. Black: king h7; queen c5; rooks d3/e8; bishops f7/h6; pawns a5/b7/c6/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook e8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qg7# — queen h6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/1p3b1k/2p2Ppb/p1q1p1P1/4P2Q/1P1r4/P3N1BP/5R1K b - - 0 29

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