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

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a1/f1; bishop b6; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen b4; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/f8; knight d3; pawns a7/d7/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook h8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2k1b1r/pb1ppQ1p/1B4p1/1N2P3/1qP5/3n4/PP4PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 19

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