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

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks d1/d8; pawns a2/b3/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a7/c8; knight e7; pawns b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook c8→d8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen c6→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rR2k1/rp2nppp/2q5/4P3/5P2/1P6/P2Q2PP/3R2K1 b - - 1 28

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