Chess Puzzle #DAjKu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen g7; rooks c1/g1; bishops h4/h7; pawns d4/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f3; rooks a8/f8; knights b3/d5; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc1 — knight b3→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen g7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king e8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rg8# — rook g1→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kr2/p1pp1pQB/1p2p3/3n4/3P3B/1n3q2/5P1P/2R1K1R1 b q - 3 21

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