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

Position

White: king h1; queen a5; rooks a7/f2; bishop c4; pawns a4/a6/c2/e4/h3. Black: king a8; queen a3; rooks d8/h8; bishop d7; pawns c6/e5/f6/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxa7 — king a8→a7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7+ — queen a5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king a7→a8).
3. Best move: Qb7# — queen c7→b7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k2r3r/R2b4/P1p2p2/Q3p2p/P1B1P3/q6P/2P2R2/7K b - - 0 34

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