Chess Puzzle #6LZFF — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks b1/b7; bishop e5; knight c3; pawns a2/c5/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen f3; rook f8; knight e4; pawns a6/c7/f5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook b7→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c8→d8).
3. Best move: Rb8# — rook b1→b8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r2/1Rp5/p6p/2P1Bpp1/4n3/2N2qP1/P6P/1R4K1 b - - 5 31

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