Chess Puzzle #9Jiva — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks d6/f1; knight g7; pawns g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen b3; rook c8; bishop c3; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/e4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop c3→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen g4→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc8 (knight e7→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d6→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/4n1Np/p2R2pP/1p6/4p1Q1/1qb5/6P1/5RK1 b - - 0 27

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