Chess Puzzle #s6ahB — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook d1; bishop a2; knight e6; pawns g2/h3. Black: king d7; queen c3; rooks b7/e7; bishop f6; pawns a5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc6 — king d7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd6+ — rook d1→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd6 (king c6→d6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qd5# — queen h5→d5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qd5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1r1kr1pp/4Nb2/p6Q/8/2q4P/B5P1/3R3K b - - 5 35

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