Chess Puzzle #1d3gy — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks e1/e3; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks d8/f8; bishop f3; pawns b5/g2/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/5Qpp/8/1p6/8/1BP1Rb1q/PP3Pp1/4R1K1 b - - 0 30

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