Chess Puzzle #5v3XL — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen g5; knight f5; pawns a3/b2/f4/g4/h2. Black: king h7; queen e5; rook h8; pawns b5/b7/c6/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen e5→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Ne7# — knight f5→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Ne7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1p3p1k/2p5/1p1pqNQ1/5PP1/P6K/1P5P/8 b - - 0 35

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