Chess Puzzle #0Wh20 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; bishop h4; pawns a2/b2/e4/e6/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen a4; rooks a8/h8; bishops b6/c8; pawns a6/b5/d7/f7/g4/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe6 — pawn d7→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop b6→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/3p1pp1/pb2P3/1p6/q3P1pB/3Q2P1/PP5P/1K1R3R b kq - 0 21

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