Chess Puzzle #57iI5 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks d1/d8; bishop b6; pawns a2/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks a8/e8; bishop h3; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa8 — rook d8→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen e2→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen c3→e1).
3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen d1→e1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2Rr1k1/1p3ppp/pB6/8/8/2Q3Pb/P1P1qP1P/3R2K1 w - - 2 24

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