Chess Puzzle #0DcQ8 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks b7/e1; knight b6; pawns a4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/d8; knight e4; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa8 — knight b6→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen d4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen f2→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/1R3p1p/pN2p1p1/3p4/P2qn3/7Q/5PPP/4R1K1 w - - 4 30

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