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

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks d3/h1; knight e7; pawns a2/b2/c5/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/pp2Nppp/8/2P2q1Q/5P2/3R4/PP5P/2K4R b - - 1 20

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