Chess Puzzle #HIg0i — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c4/e6/f4/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/g7; knight g4; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/f5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pb4bp/1p1pP3/2p2pN1/2P2Pn1/2N1B2P/PP4P1/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 0 15

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