Chess Puzzle #1iBuE — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook e1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b3/c3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h6; rook f8; bishop b8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh3 — queen h6→h3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1b3rk1/pp3ppp/7q/3Q4/2B3P1/1PP4P/P4P2/4R1K1 b - - 4 26

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