Chess Puzzle #MT9Ru — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen c7; rooks b7/h1; bishop c4; pawns d3/e4/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f3; rook f8; knights d4/f4; pawns e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh1 — queen f3→h1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen c7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rb8# — rook b7→b8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1RQ2ppp/8/4p3/2BnPn2/3P1q2/3K1P1P/7R b - - 1 23

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