Chess Puzzle #5HTBJ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d3; rook g6; bishops c1/c2; knight d6; pawns a2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/e5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen d3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop e5→g7).
3. Best move: Qh7# — queen g6→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1b1p2/1q1Np1R1/3pb3/8/3Q4/P1B2PP1/2B2K2 b - - 0 20

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