Chess Puzzle #0OA31 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f4; queen a6; rook e7; bishop g3; knight e3; pawns a2/d4/f3/h2/h5. Black: king g8; queen d2; rooks c8/h8; bishop g2; pawns c4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bh3 — bishop g2→h3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen a6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop h3→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8# — rook e7→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3kr/4Rppp/Q7/7P/2pP1K2/4NPB1/P2q2bP/8 b - - 4 30

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