Chess Puzzle #EWza6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b4; queen e5; knight c5; pawns a2/b3/d4/g3/h2. Black: king b6; queen c2; rook c7; pawns b5/c6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a2→a4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd2+ — queen c2→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka3 (king b4→a3).
3. Best move: b4# — pawn b5→b4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with b4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/2r5/1kp5/1pN1Q3/1K1P4/1P4P1/P1q4P/8 w - - 3 43

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