Chess Puzzle #1NDEp — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook f3; knights e4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/d8; bishop c8; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d8→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f3→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1br1nk1/pp4p1/2p1p1q1/6N1/3PN2Q/5R2/PPP3PP/6K1 b - - 3 20

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