Chess Puzzle #JA1k7 — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knights b5/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops e6/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/e5/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen b6→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d2→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd8 (knight c6→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nc7# — knight b5→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Nc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pp2pppp/1qn1bn2/1N2p3/8/4BP2/PPPQ2PP/2KR1BNR b kq - 1 12

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