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

Position

White: king h2; queen e7; rook e8; knight d5; pawns a2/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen g7; rook b5; knight f8; pawns a7/b6/f7/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd5 — rook b5→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen g7→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e7→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4Rn1k/p3Qpqp/1p6/1r1N3p/8/8/P4PPK/8 b - - 3 33

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