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

Position

White: king h4; queen f2; rooks f1/h1; bishop e3; knight e6; pawns a2/g5. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks g3/g7; bishops a6/e5; pawns a7/b2/d5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd3 — bishop a6→d3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f2→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen c8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2q3k1/p5rp/b3N1p1/3pb1P1/7K/4B1r1/Pp3Q2/5R1R b - - 5 31

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