Chess Puzzle #BLarb — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen f4; rooks b1/d2; knight a2; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks b7/b8; bishop d5; pawns a5/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc1 — knight a2→c1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxa3+ — queen a4→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxa3 (pawn b2→a3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxb1# — rook b7→b1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxb1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/1r3pp1/4p2p/p2b4/q2P1Q1P/P1P5/NP1R1PP1/KR6 w - - 2 34

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