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

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; knight h5; pawns b3/c2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks f5/f8; pawns c5/d6/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg7 — knight h5→g7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rf1+ — rook f5→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen d1→f1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/6q1/3p3p/2p2r1N/8/1P1P4/2P3PP/3Q3K w - - 0 23

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