Chess Puzzle #05rKP — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rook e1; bishop b1; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/d4/f3/g3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c6/e8; knight f6; pawns a6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe8 (knight f6→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2q2pp1/p1r2n1p/4p3/N2P4/5PP1/PP2Q2K/1B2R3 b - - 2 35

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