Chess Puzzle #11sIh — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queens e6/e8; rook d1; bishop d2; pawns a3/b2/c2/h2. Black: king h8; queen g2; rooks b8/f1; knight e4; pawns d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook b8→e8, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f1→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r2Q2k/6pp/4Q3/3p4/4n3/P7/1PPB2qP/2KR1r2 b - - 0 24

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