Chess Puzzle #3gre9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen d2; rook c1; knight c3; pawns b3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook b8; bishop d4; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d2→d4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxb3+ — queen b6→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king a2→a1).
3. Best move: Qb2# — queen b3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/5ppp/1q2p3/p2p4/3b4/1PN1P3/K2Q1PPP/2R5 w - - 0 26

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