Chess Puzzle #2wTO4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen b5; rooks b1/c1; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f5; rooks c6/e8; bishop h6; knight d2; pawns b7/c7/d5/f6/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

1. Opponent setup: Rb6 — rook c6→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8# — queen b5→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/1pp5/2r2ppb/1QNp1q2/3P4/8/PP1n1PPP/KRR5 b - - 2 25

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