Chess Puzzle #411HV — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/e5; bishop c1; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen e7→e5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen g4→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Qd5 (queen e5→d5).
3. Best move: Qxd5# — queen c4→d5, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4bkr/pp2q1pp/8/4R3/6Q1/2P5/PP3PPP/R1B3K1 b - - 0 16

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