Chess Puzzle #23ht9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen b4; rooks e7/g1; knight e6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/h2. Black: king b8; queen f8; rooks f1/h8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/c6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf1 — rook g1→f1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f8→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen b4→e1).
3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen f1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3q1r/pb2R2p/1pp1N1p1/8/1Q1P4/8/PPP4P/1K3rR1 w - - 7 34

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