Chess Puzzle #5Hy4p — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks b7/h1; bishop e2; knight f6; pawns a2/c2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishop e5; knight c6; pawns a6/e4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d1→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1R3ppp/p1n2N2/2q1b3/4p3/4P3/P1P1BPPP/3Q1K1R b kq - 1 16

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