Chess Puzzle #8ItI5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; bishop a1; pawns b4/c4/d5/e7/h2. Black: king g8; queen d2; knights g5/h4; pawns b6/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen d2→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f8→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p1P1p1/1p5p/3P2n1/1PP4n/8/3q3P/B4Q1K b - - 0 39

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