Chess Puzzle #PCphX — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e4; rook f1; bishop b1; pawns a3/c2/c3/d4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rook g6; bishop h7; pawns a6/b5/c4/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen a5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Rxf7# — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5p1b/p5rp/qp6/2pPQ3/P1P4P/2P4K/1B3R2 b - - 1 36

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