Chess Puzzle #0pvZx — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen e4; rooks a1/f4; bishop b2; knights c3/g4; pawns a2/c4/d5/g2. Black: king f8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; pawns a6/c6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook a1→e1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxg4+ — bishop c8→g4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg4 (rook f4→g4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qf2# — queen h4→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short, swallowstail mate. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1r/5pp1/p1p5/2bP4/2P1QRNq/2N2K2/PB4P1/R7 w - - 6 23

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