Chess Puzzle #6s8kD — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen h3; rook g6; knight d2; pawns b3/e4/f5. Black: king e7; queen b2; rooks c1/c8; pawns a5/b5/d6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxb2 — king a2→b2, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: R8c2+ — rook c8→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka3 (king b2→a3).
3. Best move: Ra1# — rook c1→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Ra1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/4k3/3p2Rp/pp3P2/4P3/1P5Q/Kq1N4/2r5 w - - 0 39

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