Chess Puzzle #4JqYA — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen g3; bishop d3; knight e7; pawns a2/b3/c4/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen d4; rook a8; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g3→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/pp2N2k/7n/2p1p3/2Pq4/1P1B2QP/P3K1P1/8 b - - 1 30

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