Chess Puzzle #MU5Ze — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c5/g2; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g4/h2. Black: king b8; queen d2; rooks d8/e8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa4 — queen e4→a4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d2→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook a1→d1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d8→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1rr3/ppp2ppp/2n5/2B5/4Q1P1/8/PPPq1PBP/R4K1R w - - 1 17

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