Chess Puzzle #8Q916 — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen g5; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/d5; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen g5→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
3. Best move: Qf7# — queen g7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq3r/ppp1k1pp/2nb1n2/3B2Q1/3Pp3/8/PPP2PPP/RNB1K1NR b KQ - 2 11

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