Chess Puzzle #23JED — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rook e1; bishop h5; knight b4; pawns b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen f5; rook f8; bishop g5; knight e7; pawns b5/c6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight b4→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f5→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook e1→f1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r2/4n1kp/2pQ4/1p3qbB/1N6/2P5/1P4PP/4R2K w - - 2 30

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