Chess Puzzle #9Ru4x — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d7; bishop f4; pawns a2/c2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king d5; queen a5; bishop c3; pawns a7/e5/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke4 — king d5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd3+ — queen d7→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf4 (king e4→f4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qe3# — queen d3→e3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/p2Q1pp1/6p1/q2kp3/5BP1/2b4P/P1P2P2/1K6 b - - 3 27

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