Chess Puzzle #3VXdM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; knight c4; pawns a2/b3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen d4; rooks c7/h8; knight f2; pawns e5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen d4→a1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen a1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/2r2kpp/5p2/4p3/Q1Nq1P2/1P6/P4nPP/R4R1K w - - 7 23

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