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

Position

White: king h2; queen c4; rooks d2/d7; pawns b4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/b8; knight f6; pawns a5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen a3→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rr4k1/3R1pp1/5n1p/p7/1PQ5/q3P2P/3R1PPK/8 b - - 0 35

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