Chess Puzzle #IjEMZ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen h6; rook h1; bishop c1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/f3. Black: king f7; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights d4/d7; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen b6→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
3. Best move: Qxe7# — queen h7→e7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1p1nbk2/pq1p2pQ/2pNp3/2PnP3/5P2/PP6/2B2K1R b - - 3 23

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