Chess Puzzle #1cvbs — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; pawns a2/b2/e4/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen g4; rook e8; bishop a7; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe5 — bishop f4→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen g4→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf3 (rook f1→f3).
3. Best move: Qxf3# — queen e4→f3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/bp3kpp/p2Q1p2/4n3/4PBq1/6P1/PP5P/R4R1K w - - 0 23

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