Chess Puzzle #01VAQ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e8; rooks c1/e1; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks f2/g5; knight g3; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe8 — queen c6→e8, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f2→f8).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4Q2k/ppp3pp/2q5/6r1/2N3P1/6nP/PP3r2/2R1R1K1 b - - 2 24

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