Chess Puzzle #0bd00 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d4/f1; knight e4; pawns b2/c2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a2; rooks c8/h8; bishop g7; knight c5; pawns a6/b7/d6/e6/e7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a2→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Nb1 (knight c3→b1).
3. Best move: Nb3# — knight c5→b3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nb3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1p2p1bp/p2pp1p1/2n1P3/3BNP2/8/qPPQ2PP/2KR1B1R w k - 0 15

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