Chess Puzzle #1AZC9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d5; rooks a1/e1; bishop c6; knight f2; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2. Black: king h8; queen h2; rook f8; bishop e4; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f8→f2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/ppp3pp/2B5/3Q4/4b1n1/8/PPP2NPq/R3RK2 w - - 0 19

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