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

Position

White: king b1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; pawns b2/b3/c3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen a5; rooks a6/h8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a5→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king b1→c2).
3. Best move: Qxh1 — queen a1→h1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short, skewer. The key move is Qa1+.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pp2ppk1/r2p2p1/q2n3p/4P3/1PP1QP2/1P4PP/1K1R3R w - - 0 20

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