Chess Puzzle #MZc9O — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop d5; knights b5/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f7/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/f4; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b6/d7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: fxe8=Q# — pawn f7→e8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, promotion, short. The combination ends with fxe8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/pb1p1Pp1/1pn2n1p/1NqB4/5b2/5N2/PPP1Q1PP/R3R2K b - - 8 18

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