Chess Puzzle #Qo8WT — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; bishops g5/h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/h2. Black: king h8; queen g7; rook a8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d2→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen g7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen d8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/1p4qp/p3p3/6BB/8/8/PPPQ3P/2K5 b - - 3 27

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