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

Position

White: king h1; queen a3; rooks b1/f1; knight d5; pawns c3/d4/e5/h2. Black: king c8; queen c4; rooks f8/g8; pawns a7/b7/f4/f5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen a3→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen c4→d5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rf3 (rook f1→f3).
3. Best move: Qxf3# — queen d5→f3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2rr1/pp6/7p/3NPp2/2qP1p2/Q1P5/7P/1R3R1K w - - 0 29

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