Chess Puzzle #9o6QA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rook e1; pawns d4/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queen d5; rook b3; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e1→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
3. Best move: Rxh7# — rook e7→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/ppQ1p1kp/3p1pp1/3q4/3P3P/1r4P1/5P2/4R1K1 b - - 1 34

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