Chess Puzzle #2Eekh — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/d2; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f5/g4/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/d7; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e1→f1).
3. Best move: Qf2# — queen h4→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pppbqpp1/2np3p/2bnpP2/2B1P1P1/2NP4/PPPB3P/R2QK1NR w KQkq - 1 10

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