Chess Puzzle #4aK6E — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rooks g1/g2; bishop h6; pawns a5/b2/h4. Black: king h8; queen d5; rooks d8/g8; bishop g6; knight f3; pawns a6/b7/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg1 — knight f3→g1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen f4→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g8→g7).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f6→g7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2rk/1p3p1p/p4pbB/P2q4/5Q1P/5n2/1P4R1/6RK b - - 2 31

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