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

Position

White: king a1; queen b6; rook c1; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f3/g4/h4. Black: king e8; queen h2; rook h8; bishop f8; knight f6; pawns a6/b4/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight f6→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Qd8# — queen b6→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/5pp1/pQ1p1n1p/3Pp3/1p4PP/1N3P2/PP5q/K1R5 b k - 3 23

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