Chess Puzzle #IESBo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e7; bishop b4; knight f3; pawns c7/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f2; rook c8; bishop c4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf1 — bishop c4→f1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen e7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: cxd8=Q# — pawn c7→d8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with cxd8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/2P1Qppp/4p3/3pP3/1BbP4/5N1P/5qPK/8 b - - 0 26

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