Chess Puzzle #0BavM — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks e1/e6; bishops b3/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c6; rooks d7/h8; bishops b7/d6; pawns a6/b5/c7/d5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/1bpr2pp/p1qbRp2/1p1p4/6Q1/1B4B1/PPP2PPP/4R1K1 b - - 7 19

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