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

Position

White: king a1; queen b7; rook h1; knight g3; pawns b3/c2/c7/e3/g2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rook f8; bishop g7; pawns a7/c3/e5/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c8=Q — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen e7→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
3. Best move: Qb2# — queen a3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pQP1q1b1/6p1/4p2p/8/1Pp1P1N1/2P3P1/K6R w - - 3 31

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