Chess Puzzle #bS2EA — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knight e6; pawns a2/e3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f6; queen d5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights c6/h5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bg5+ — bishop f4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f6→g6).
3. Best move: Nxf8# — knight e6→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/pp3pp1/2n1Nk2/3qP2n/5BQ1/4P3/P4PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 16

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