Chess Puzzle #15S3s — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen h1; rooks a7/e1; knight f7; pawns a4/b2/f2/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen c1; rooks c5/c8; knights f5/f8; pawns a6/b3/d6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c5→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen h1→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc1# — rook c8→c1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2nk1/R4N2/p2p2p1/2r2nPp/P6P/1p6/1P3P2/K1q1R2Q w - - 1 39

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