Chess Puzzle #3vL2i — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen h6; rooks a4/f1; pawns d3/g3/h2. Black: king b7; queen d5; rooks d4/f8; knight e2; pawns b4/c7/e5/f3/h5. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen d5→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen h6→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: 5r2/1kp5/7Q/3qp2p/Rp1r4/3P1pP1/4nK1P/5R2 b - - 1 40

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