Chess Puzzle #4F2vn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen b4; rook f1; bishop b3; pawns a2/c2/d5/g6/h7. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks b8/g7; pawns b2/d6/e7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb4 — rook b8→b4, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
3. Best move: hxg8=Q# — pawn h7→g8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with hxg8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/4p1rP/3p2P1/3Pq3/1Q6/1B6/PpP5/1K3R2 b - - 0 37

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