Chess Puzzle #25fcj — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook e1; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rook a8; bishop d6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/d5/f6/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight h4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg6 (knight e5→g6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e6→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/ppq3p1/3bQpp1/3pn3/7N/2P5/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 4 26

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