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

Position

White: king f1; queen c2; rooks a5/c6; bishop e2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/e3; bishop c8; knight h3; pawns a7/d5/e6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg3 — queen g5→g3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c6→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc8# — queen c2→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/p5pp/2R1p3/R2pNpq1/3P4/4r2n/PPQ1B1P1/5K2 b - - 3 23

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