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

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook b7; bishop d3; knight d2; pawns a2/c4/d5/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/e8; bishop a1; knight h5; pawns a7/b4/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen f4→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qh7# — queen f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pR1Q1p2/6p1/3P3n/1pP2q2/3B3P/P2N1P2/b5K1 b - - 5 27

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