Chess Puzzle #0l5VD — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/c8; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns b5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook b8; bishop g4; knight a4; pawns a7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook b8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop g4→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qe8# — queen e3→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rR3k1/p4ppp/1q6/1P1p4/n5b1/4QN2/4BPPP/2R3K1 b - - 0 23

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