Chess Puzzle #C1zBX — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rook e1; bishop b3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f3/f7/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen f4; rooks c8/h8; bishop b4; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd6 — bishop b4→d6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen b7→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc8 (knight e7→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k1r/1Q2nPp1/p7/1p5p/1b3q2/1BN2P2/PP4PP/4R1K1 b - - 1 23

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