Chess Puzzle #2LNFp — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h2; rook h1; knight f7; pawns f5/h7. Black: king h8; queen d4; rooks b8/f8; bishop c4; knight c2; pawns a5/c6/d5/e4/g6. Black is ahead by 11 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen h2→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen b8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/5N1P/2p3p1/p2p1P2/2bqp3/8/2n4Q/2K4R b - - 0 37

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