Chess Puzzle #SpemW — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks f1/f8; bishop e3; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2. Black: king d8; queen h7; rooks a8/h5; bishop d6; knight h8; pawns a6/b7/c6/c7/e5/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop d6→f8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king d8→e7).
3. Best move: Bc5# — bishop e3→c5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Bc5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2k1R1n/1pp4q/p1pb4/4p1pr/4P3/3PB2Q/PPPN2P1/5RK1 b - - 1 23

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