Chess Puzzle #1jEw7 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks a1/f8; bishop h6; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d4; rooks c5/d7; bishop c4; pawns a7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa3 — queen a6→a3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d4→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook a1→d1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d7→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5R2/p2rk2p/Q5pB/2r5/2bq4/8/5PPP/R5K1 w - - 10 32

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