Chess Puzzle #1nOp6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen c4; rook b6; knight d6; pawns b4/e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a1/a2; pawns d7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen e6→c4, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b6→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Qc8 (queen c4→c8).
3. Best move: Rxc8# — rook b8→c8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3p2pp/1R1Nq3/4P3/1PQ2P2/5KP1/r6P/r7 b - - 0 33

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