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

Position

White: king e1; queen e6; rooks c8/h1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/f4/g3/h5. Black: king h8; queen b5; rook a8; knights e3/g4; pawns b6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook a8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen b5→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen c8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1R4k/6pp/1p2Q3/1q3p1P/5Pn1/4n1P1/PP2N3/4K2R b K - 0 27

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