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

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rooks a1/c6; knight c3; pawns b2/e4. Black: king c8; queen b8; rooks d8/h8; pawns c4/d7/f7/g2. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc6 — pawn d7→c6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen a8→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen b8→c7).
3. Best move: Ra8# — rook a1→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Ra8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Qqkr3r/3p1p2/2R5/8/2p1P3/2N5/1P4p1/R5K1 b - - 0 28

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