Chess Puzzle #8c1ad — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks a1/g1; bishop f5; pawns a3/b2/c3. Black: king h7; queen c7; rooks g2/g8; bishop c6; pawns a5/b5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king h7→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh7 (queen c7→h7).
3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen h6→h7, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/2q4k/2b4p/pp3B2/7Q/P1P5/1P4r1/R5RK b - - 0 30

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