Chess Puzzle #4qe6K — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen h6; rooks b1/h1; pawns a2/b2/e4/g5/g6. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks c2/c8; knight h5; pawns a4/b4/e7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/4p2p/6PQ/6Pn/pp2P3/8/PPr1q3/KR5R b - - 0 29

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