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

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rook e8; bishop d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/g6/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook a8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook a8→e8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop d6→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3R2k/ppp2Qpp/3b2P1/8/7q/8/PPPB2PP/7K b - - 2 23

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