Chess Puzzle #2P97r — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e3; rook d1; bishops d5/g5; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/f4/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rook h8; bishop f8; knights c6/g6; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen c5→e3, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxc6+ — bishop d5→c6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/1pp2ppp/p1n3n1/2qB2B1/4PP2/4Q1N1/PP3P1P/3R3K b k - 2 22

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