Chess Puzzle #1ju1A — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks d1/d3; knight g4; pawns c3/e2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks c5/c8; bishop f6; pawns b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop f6→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1q3pp1/4pb1p/1pr5/5PN1/2PR2P1/2Q1P2P/3R2K1 b - - 1 26

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