Chess Puzzle #2GmUM — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks d1/e1; knight e5; pawns a4/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e8; rooks a8/e6; bishop c6; pawns a6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e6→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3q2k/2Q3p1/p1b1r2p/4N3/P7/8/1PP2PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 1 23

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