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

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks a1/f1; bishop c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks f7/f8; knight e3; pawns a7/c7/e6/g6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f6→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook a1→f1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f7→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1p2rpp/2Q1pqp1/8/3PP3/2B1n3/PP3PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 17

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