Chess Puzzle #28ns8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rook c2; knight e7; pawns a2/b3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook e8; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/e4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1p2Nppp/p7/4nq2/3Qp3/1P2P3/P1R2PPP/6K1 b - - 12 32

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