Chess Puzzle #2Hmr9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks d3/e1; bishop b6; pawns a2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d5; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen d5→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop e7→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen d1→d8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/1p2bpp1/pB2p2p/3q4/8/3R3P/P4PP1/3QR1K1 b kq - 1 23

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