Chess Puzzle #49c1y — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d7; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/c5/e4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; bishop f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen h4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qf6# — queen f7→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp1Q1p1p/2p3p1/2P1p3/2B1Pb1q/5P1P/PP3P2/7K b - - 2 25

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