Chess Puzzle #1H77F — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen f1; rook d1; bishop e3; knight d5; pawns a3/b4/c2. Black: king c8; queen c4; rooks g2/h2; bishop e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f2/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc2 — queen c4→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/ppp3p1/8/3Nb3/1Pq5/P3BK2/2P2prr/3R1Q2 b - - 4 32

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