Chess Puzzle #3IRhY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b4; rook e5; bishop c4; knight b6; pawns a2/h2. Black: king f8; rooks c8/g2; bishop f7; pawns a6/b7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc6 — rook c8→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight b6→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
3. Best move: Re8# — rook e5→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/1p3bpp/pN6/4R3/1KB5/8/P5rP/8 b - - 1 28

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