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

Position

White: king d2; queen h5; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f5/g3/h2. Black: king f8; rook e8; bishop b7; knight e5; pawns a7/b6/d4/d5/d7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh7 — queen h5→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king d2→c1).
3. Best move: Re1# — rook e8→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Re1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rk2/pb1p2pp/1p6/3pnP1Q/3p4/3B2P1/PPPK3P/8 w - - 4 23

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