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

Position

White: king h1; queen c7; rook b8; bishop c6; pawns g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook f8; knight e5; pawns a7/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb8 — rook f8→b8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen c7→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Qe8# — queen b8→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1R3rk1/p1Q3pp/2B1pp2/4n3/5q2/7P/6P1/7K b - - 1 27

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