Chess Puzzle #3rrwJ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rook h3; bishop b3; knight c4; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen c5; rooks d8/f8; bishop e4; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/c7/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen f4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/2p2pk1/p3pn2/1pq5/2N1bQ2/PB5R/1P3PPP/2K5 b - - 4 27

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