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

Position

White: king g2; queen g6; rook h8; bishop g4; knights f3/g3; pawns a2/c3/d4/e5/f2/g5. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks e8/f7; bishop b7; knights c6/d7; pawns b2/b4/c5/d5/e6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king f8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen g6→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e6→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rk1R/1bqn1r2/2n1p1Q1/2ppP1P1/1p1P2B1/2P2NN1/Pp3PK1/8 b - - 2 27

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