Chess Puzzle #8XoXR — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen e6; rook a1; bishops c1/d3; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e3/f4/h2. Black: king h8; queen f2; rooks a8/d8; bishop c5; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen e6→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxe3+ — bishop c5→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king d2→d1).
3. Best move: Qf1# — queen f2→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1r3k/pp4p1/2p1Q3/2b2p1p/5P2/2NBP3/PPPKNq1P/R1B5 w - - 1 18

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