Chess Puzzle #4Y7ky — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen g2; rooks a1/e1; knight c3; pawns b2/b3/c2/d3/e4/f3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h1; bishop a7; pawns a6/b5/c6/d6/e5/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke2 — king f1→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen b6→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e2→d1).
3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen e3→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/b4p2/pqpp4/1p2p3/4P3/1PNP1P2/1PP3Q1/R3RK1r w q - 2 24

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