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

Position

White: king h1; queen c6; rooks b1/f3; knight g4; pawns a4/c3/f4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks d2/e1; bishop a7; pawns f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe1 — rook b1→e1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen h4→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f3→f1).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/b4pp1/2Q4p/8/P4PNq/2P2R1P/3r4/1R2r2K w - - 2 29

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