Chess Puzzle #04vLu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook e3; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook d8; bishop d5; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop d5→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen e2→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p4ppp/1qp5/3b4/3P4/1P2RN2/P3QPPP/6K1 b - - 2 20

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