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

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook e1; bishops f1/h6; knight f3; pawns a2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishops a1/c8; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc3 — bishop a1→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bq2k1/pp3p1p/2p3pB/7n/3P4/5N2/P3QPPP/b3RBK1 b - - 1 17

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