Chess Puzzle #7afNZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen a6; bishop g3; pawns b6/e3/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen b2; rook h8; pawns a5/c7/f5/g5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa7+ — queen a6→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
3. Best move: Qxc7# — queen a7→c7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/2p5/QP6/p4pp1/8/4P1B1/1q4PP/5K2 b - - 20 42

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