Chess Puzzle #585HI — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen a6; rooks c1/h1; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/h6. Black: king h7; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop f5; pawns b5/d5/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen a6→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxa3+ — rook a8→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxa3 (pawn b2→a3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa3# — queen e7→a3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4r2/4q2k/Q5pP/1p1pNb2/3P4/P3P3/1P6/K1R4R w - - 1 37

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