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

Position

White: king a2; queen c7; rooks e1/e3; bishop g3; pawns b3/d5/f2/h6. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks b6/b8; bishop f6; pawns a3/d6/f3/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc7 — queen f7→c7, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook b8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/2Q2q1p/1r1p1bpP/3P4/8/pP2RpB1/K4P2/4R3 b - - 0 34

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