Chess Puzzle #9VX13 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g7; rooks f1/f5; bishop b2; pawns a3/b4/c4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d8/e3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen e7→g7, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f5→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook d8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/ppp1q1Qp/2n5/5R2/1PP5/P3r3/1B4PP/5RK1 b - - 0 24

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