Chess Puzzle #0xjI1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks a1/f1; pawns a2/b3/d4/e6/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h8; rooks a8/g7; bishop d2; knight b6; pawns b5/b7/c7/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg8 — queen h8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1k4q/1pp3r1/1n2PQ2/1p5p/3P4/1P6/P2b2PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 26

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