Chess Puzzle #24e9Z — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks a4/f1; bishop b5; pawns a2/f2/f5/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen h6; rooks d8/h8; knights b6/e7; pawns b7/c7/d6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc8 — king b8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxa8 (knight b6→a8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxa8# — rook a4→a8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/Qpp1n1pp/1n1p1p1q/1B3P2/R7/8/P4PPP/5RK1 b - - 6 22

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