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

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rooks d7/d8; pawns a2/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rook f8; bishops a6/g7; pawns a7/b6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen e7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook d8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop g7→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen a8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q2R1r1k/p2Rq1bp/bp4p1/4P3/8/6P1/P4P1P/6K1 b - - 6 30

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