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

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook d2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rook e8; knight g4; pawns a7/b6/d5/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen a6→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e6→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe1 (knight f3→e1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p4p2/Qp2q2p/3p2p1/6n1/2P2NP1/PP1R1PP1/6K1 w - - 12 27

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