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

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; rook c1; knight b3; pawns a3/b4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen g5; rook e7; bishop f3; pawns b7/d4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d8→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen g5→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc1 (knight b3→c1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re1# — rook e7→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3Q4/1p2rppk/7p/6q1/1P1p4/PN3bP1/5P1P/2R3K1 w - - 2 29

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