Chess Puzzle #1LeB2 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook f1; bishop b4; pawns c3/d4/e3/e5/h3. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook e8; knight e4; pawns c4/d5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb7 — queen a6→b7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f4→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/6pp/q3p3/3pP3/1BpPnQ2/2P1P2P/8/5RK1 b - - 2 29

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