Chess Puzzle #9q9Kq — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d3/h1; bishops e5/f3; knights b1/d4; pawns c2/e4/f4/g5/h4. Black: king e8; queen a1; rooks c8/h8; bishops b7/e7; knight b6; pawns a6/b5/c3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb5 — knight d4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb2+ — queen a1→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king c1→d1).
3. Best move: Qxb1# — queen b2→b1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxb1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1b2bppp/pn6/1p2B1P1/3NPP1P/2pR1B2/2P1Q3/qNK4R w k - 2 28

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