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

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rook e3; bishop f6; knight b1; pawns b2/c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a8; rook f8; bishop b7; knight e6; pawns c5/f5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh3+ — rook e3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Rh8# — rook h3→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: q4rk1/1b3p1Q/4nBp1/2p1Pp2/8/2P1R3/1P3PPP/1N4K1 b - - 0 24

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