Chess Puzzle #43KHt — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen g7; rooks a1/h1; bishops e2/e5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f2; rooks a8/h8; bishops a6/e3; knight g8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook h1→f1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxe2+ — bishop a6→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe2 (knight c3→e2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen f2→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/p1pp1pQp/bp6/4B3/4P3/2N1b3/PPP1BqPP/R2K3R w kq - 4 12

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