Chess Puzzle #2fdF0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h7; rook h1; bishop d2; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/e4. Black: king e7; queen d7; rooks f7/h8; bishop g7; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/e5/f6/g4. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king e7→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen h7→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h1→h8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1ppqkrbQ/3p1p2/p2PpN2/4P1p1/8/PPPB4/2K4R b - - 9 27

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