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

Position

White: king c1; queen e7; rooks d2/f1; pawns a3/b2/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook c3; bishop e4; knight f2; pawns a7/b7/d5/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen e3→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rc2 (rook d2→c2).
3. Best move: Qxc2# — queen c3→c2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp2Q3/6p1/3pp3/4b1P1/P1r1q3/1P1R1n1P/2K2R2 w - - 0 26

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