Chess Puzzle #4yrWZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rook f3; bishop d3; pawns c2/f7/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen a3; rook f8; bishop d6; pawns a6/b5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen e4→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Be5 (bishop d6→e5).
3. Best move: Qxe5# — queen d4→e5, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/5Ppp/p2b4/1p6/4Q3/q2B1R1P/2P3P1/7K b - - 2 34

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