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

Position

White: king b1; queen d8; rooks d1/e2; knight e6; pawns b2/b3/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rooks a7/c8; bishop g7; pawns f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook c8→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook d8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2rQ2k1/r4pbp/q3N1p1/8/5P2/1P6/1P2R2P/1K1R4 b - - 2 32

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