Chess Puzzle #9OmSL — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rook e5; bishop c5; knights d6/f3; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king d5; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen f6→e5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb3+ — queen b7→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc5 (king d5→c5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nb7# — knight d6→b7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Nb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/1Q2n1bp/p1nN1qp1/2BkR3/8/5N2/5PPP/6K1 b - - 4 25

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