Chess Puzzle #176HE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks c1/e1; bishop a8; pawns a2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d4; rook h8; knights e7/g6; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf5 — knight e7→f5, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen d4→d8).
3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook c8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: B4k1r/p3nppp/6n1/5Q2/3q1P2/8/P5PP/2R1R2K b - - 0 22

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