Chess Puzzle #4BS60 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks b1/g7; pawns a2/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king a7; queen e5; rooks b8/h8; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen e5→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb7 (rook b8→b7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxb7# — queen d7→b7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5r/kp1Q2Rp/p2p4/2pPq3/4P3/8/P5PP/1R4K1 b - - 4 31

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