Chess Puzzle #2FLsg — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks e1/f1; knight g5; pawns a2/d5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/h6; bishop c8; knight d4; pawns a6/b5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight d4→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d7→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/3q2p1/p6r/1p1P2N1/3n1P2/4Q3/P5PP/4RRK1 b - - 2 24

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