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

Position

White: king d4; queen d3; rook g7; bishops d2/g6; knights b3/c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4. Black: king b8; queen e5; rook f8; bishop d6; pawns a6/b7/c7. White is ahead by 10 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc4 — king d4→c4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: b5+ — pawn b7→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Nxb5 (knight c3→b5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: axb5# — pawn a6→b5, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with axb5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3r2/1pp3R1/p2b2B1/4q3/3KP3/1NNQ4/PPPB4/8 w - - 2 35

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