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

Position

White: king c1; queen e4; rooks d2/g6; knight g1; pawns a3/b2/c2/h6. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks c8/f8; bishop d5; pawns a4/b5/d6/e7/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen e4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qg7# — queen g6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1q2p2p/3p1pRP/1p1b4/p3Q3/P7/1PPR4/2K3N1 b - - 0 27

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