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

Position

White: king c2; queen e2; rook d1; bishop f3; pawns a2/f2/g4. Black: king h8; queen b4; rook d8; bishop b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook d8→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen b4→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/pp4pp/1bp5/8/1q4P1/5B2/P1K1QP2/3R4 b - - 5 37

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