Chess Puzzle #13wqx — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g4; rooks g1/g6; pawns a2/b3/e6/h6. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks b2/b8; bishop e5; pawns a3/c7/d6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook b2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rg8+ — rook g6→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook b8→g8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxg8# — queen g4→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/2p1q3/3pP1RP/4b3/6Q1/pP6/Pr6/2K3R1 b - - 3 34

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