Chess Puzzle #4PC6l — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knight b4; pawns f2/g5/h3. Black: king a8; queen d5; rooks d8/h8; bishops f8/g6; pawns a6/b7/e4/g7/h4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxb4 — bishop f8→b4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa6+ — rook a1→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxa6 (pawn b7→a6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa6# — queen e2→a6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxa6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: k2r1b1r/1p4p1/p5b1/3q2P1/1N2pB1p/7P/4QP2/R4RK1 b - - 1 28

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