Chess Puzzle #C4x8D — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h8; rooks a1/d3; bishop b1; knights f6/g4; pawns a3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen b2; rooks c8/g7; bishops c5/c6; pawns a5/b4/e6/f7/g5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc8 — queen h8→c8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen b2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rd1 (rook d3→d1).
3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4Q/4kpr1/2b1pN2/p1b1P1p1/1p4N1/P2R4/1q3PPP/RB4K1 w - - 2 36

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