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

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rook a7; bishop b2; knights e3/e4; pawns d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rook f8; bishops e2/e7; knight f6; pawns e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook a7→e7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen b4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Nf1 (knight e3→f1).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/R3bpp1/4pn1p/3P4/1q1QN3/4NP2/1B2b1PP/6K1 w - - 1 26

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