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

Position

White: king h5; queen f5; bishop f6; knight e3; pawns a4/b2/c3/f3/h4. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks e8/g2; pawns a6/c6/c7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook e8→e3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e3→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen c8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2p2p1p/p1p2B2/5Q1K/P6P/2P1NPq1/1P4r1/8 b - - 0 33

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