Chess Puzzle #3HmUA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rook f1; bishop b4; pawns a3/c5/e3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook a7; bishop a5; pawns b7/c6/d5/e4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxb4 — bishop a5→b4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen e7→d8).
3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/rp2q1pp/2p5/b1Pp1Q2/1B2p3/P3P3/7P/5RK1 b - - 3 30

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