Chess Puzzle #EXw3g — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rooks a1/d1; bishop e3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/f3/g3/h2. Black: king c7; queen d5; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knight d4; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen d5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
3. Best move: Ne2# — knight d4→e2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Ne2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p1k2ppp/2p5/2bq4/Q2nN3/4BPP1/PP5P/R2R3K w - - 8 23

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