Chess Puzzle #9JDwz — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; bishops d4/e4; knight f4; pawns a3/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook c8; bishop f7; knight e5; pawns a7/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen c7→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c8→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
3. Best move: Qf1# — queen a6→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p1Q2bpp/q4p2/4n3/3BBN2/P3P1P1/5P1P/6K1 w - - 7 30

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