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

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishop b2; pawns a3/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a4/e8; bishop h3; pawns b5/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen e7→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/4qppp/8/1p6/r2p4/P3PQPb/1B3P1P/R3R1K1 w - - 0 25

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