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

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop g5; pawns a2/b2/e6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/c4/c7/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen e7→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Qd7# — queen f7→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/ppp1q1pp/4P3/2bp2B1/2p5/5Q2/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b kq - 2 15

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