Chess Puzzle #1XBB3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks d1/f1; knight a5; pawns a2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks a8/e7; bishops b4/e4; pawns a6/c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen b5→a5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen a8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p1rppp/p1Qp4/Nq1P4/1b2b3/8/P4PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 5 28

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