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

Position

White: king d1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop h6; knight c3; pawns a2/c4/d3/e4/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks b2/h8; bishop h4; pawns a6/c7/d5/e5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d7→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king d1→c1).
3. Best move: Qc2# — queen a4→c2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/2pq3p/p5pB/3pp3/2P1P1Pb/2NP1Q1P/Pr6/R2K1R2 w k - 0 23

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