Chess Puzzle #q9gS3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rook f1; bishop e6; pawns a4/b2/c2/c4/e4/h3. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; knight e5; pawns a5/b7/d6/e7/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen g5→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Qd7# — queen b5→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1p2p3/3pB3/p3n1Qp/P1PqP3/7P/1PP5/2K2R2 b kq - 2 25

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