Chess Puzzle #5hX4u — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d1/e1; bishop f6; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight d3; pawns a7/c4/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen d4→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen f3→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
3. Best move: Qxe6# — queen d5→e6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2bkr/p6p/5B2/8/2pq4/3n1Q2/P4PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 22

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