Chess Puzzle #3C8Fx — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c3; queen e3; rooks a6/h7; bishop g2; knight d2; pawns c4/e4/f3/g3. Black: king f8; queen c8; rooks b2/b8; bishop e6; knight g8; pawns d6/e5/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa7 — queen e3→a7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen c8→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc4 (knight d2→c4, captures queen).
3. Best move: R8b3# — rook b8→b3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with R8b3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rq2kn1/7R/R2pb1p1/4p3/2P1P3/2K1QPP1/1r1N2B1/8 w - - 1 34

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