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

Position

White: king b2; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop f4; knights e5/f3; pawns a2/b3/e3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king e8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f5; knights c2/c3; pawns b4/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc2 — queen d2→c2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxa2+ — rook a8→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b2→c1).
3. Best move: Rxc2# — rook a2→c2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/5ppp/1p2p3/3pNb2/1p3B1P/1Pn1PN2/PKnQ1PP1/3R3R w kq - 0 21

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