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

Position

White: king a1; queen e2; rooks d2/h1; bishop b3; pawns a2/a3/d4/g2/g3. Black: king e7; queen c7; rooks b8/c3; pawns a7/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh7 — rook h1→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c3→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king a1→b2).
3. Best move: Qc3# — queen c7→c3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/p1q1kp1p/4p1p1/8/3P4/PBr3P1/P2RQ1P1/K6R w - - 0 32

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