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

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks d1/e1; pawns c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks a2/f8; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen a4→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen e7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p3Qppp/2p5/8/q7/2P5/r4PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 1 22

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