Chess Puzzle #GTiIF — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h2; rooks d1/h1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f4/g6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/e7; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/e3/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxh1 — bishop b7→h1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/1bp1b1p1/1p1pp1P1/p7/3P1P2/2P1p3/PP1N3Q/2KR3R b - - 1 23

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