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

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rook e7; bishop b3; knight h4; pawns a3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks e8/f8; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/d6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qh4# — queen g5→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rr1k/pp2R1pp/1nqp4/5pQ1/7N/PB6/5PPP/6K1 b - - 2 29

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