Chess Puzzle #CD2mc — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook b1; bishops c1/g2; knight f1; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/h2. Black: king f8; queen h4; rook e1; bishop d6; knight e5; pawns a6/b6/c5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be3 — bishop c1→e3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop g2→f3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen h4→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/5pp1/pp1b4/2p1n3/7q/2P5/PPQ2PBP/1RB1rNK1 w - - 5 23

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