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

Position

White: king g1; rooks c1/c7; bishop e5; knight d6; pawns b6/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/d3; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a4/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c7→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc8# — rook c1→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/1pR3pp/1PnNp3/3pB3/p7/3r2P1/5P1P/2R3K1 b - - 2 29

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