Chess Puzzle #21hAZ — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen b2; rooks d1/e1; bishop e3; pawns a2/b3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen e4; rook c4; bishop g6; knight f6; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b3→c4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen e4→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qc2 (queen b2→c2).
3. Best move: Qxc2# — queen c4→c2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p4ppp/5nb1/8/2r1q1P1/1P2B2P/PQ3P2/2KRR3 w - - 0 27

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