Chess Puzzle #4yXST — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a4/c2/g2/h7. Black: king h8; queen b4; rook a8; bishop f6; pawns c6/d6/e7. White is ahead by 9 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb1 — rook d1→b1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxa4+ — rook a8→a4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxa4 (knight c3→a4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa4# — queen b4→a4, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxa4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/4p2P/2pp1b2/8/Pq6/2N5/K1PBQ1P1/3R3R w - - 3 29

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