Chess Puzzle #8apNf — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knights a2/f4; pawns d4/e4/f3/g2/h5. Black: king g7; queen a3; rooks b2/b8; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen d2→c3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxa2+ — rook b2→a2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxa2 (bishop c4→a2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc3# — queen a3→c3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/p3ppkp/2pp1np1/7P/2BPPN2/q4P2/Nr1Q2P1/K2R3R w - - 4 24

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