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

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/d2; bishops d5/e5; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen c6; rooks c8/g8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/e6/f5/g6/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen c6→d5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen h4→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g8→g7).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen e7→g7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3r1/pb5k/1pq1p1pp/3BBp2/1P1P3Q/P6P/3R1PP1/R5K1 b - - 0 26

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