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

Position

White: king a1; queen h6; rooks b1/h1; bishops d2/h3; knight e2; pawns a3/b2/h5. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/b3; knight e7; pawns a7/b5/d4/d5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxa3+ — rook b3→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxa3 (pawn b2→a3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa3# — queen c5→a3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxa3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p3n2p/6pQ/1pqp3P/3p4/Pr5B/1P1BN3/KR5R w - - 7 26

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