Chess Puzzle #1kc2O — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; rooks g1/g2; bishop c2; pawns a2/b3/f4/h7. Black: king h8; rooks b8/e3; bishop b7; knight b6; pawns a7/d5/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e3→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rg8+ — rook g2→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook b8→g8, captures rook).
3. Best move: hxg8=Q# — pawn h7→g8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, promotion, short. The combination ends with hxg8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/pb5P/1n3p1p/3p4/5P2/1P2r3/P1B3R1/2K3R1 b - - 1 33

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