Chess Puzzle #5J81J — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b7; rook c1; bishop a3; knight d2; pawns a2/d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen e8; rook c8; bishop d7; knight f6; pawns a6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Nf1 (knight d2→f1).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1q3/1Q1b2pk/p4n1p/3P4/8/B4P2/P2N2PP/2R4K w - - 1 27

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