Chess Puzzle #258fi — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rook d1; knight f5; pawns a2/c4/g2. Black: king g7; queen f6; rook h8; bishop c5; pawns a7/b6/f4/f7/h3/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g7→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen f6→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 7r/p4pk1/1p3q2/2b2N1p/2P2p2/3Q3p/P5P1/3R3K b - - 1 31

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