Chess Puzzle #3z0CV — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks a1/h1; bishop a3; knight b5; pawns e3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight e4; pawns a5/e7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd2+ — queen d7→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e1→f1).
3. Best move: Qxf2# — queen d2→f2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/3qpppp/8/pN2P3/4n3/BQ2P3/5PPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 1 15

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