Chess Puzzle #Schi5 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c3; queen d2; rooks a1/e5; knight d4; pawns a3/b2/c5/d3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/f3; knight e4; pawns a6/b5/c7/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e5→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen c6→c5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb3 (king c3→b3).
3. Best move: Qc4# — queen c5→c4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qc4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p3pp/p1q1p3/1pP1R3/3Nn3/P1KP1r1P/1P1Q4/R7 w - - 3 28

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