Chess Puzzle #0LciQ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks a1/f1; knight c3; pawns a4/c4/d5/e4/f3/g2. Black: king d7; queen g3; rooks a8/h1; bishop e7; pawns b7/c7/d6/e5/f4/f6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh1 — king g1→h1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook a8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
3. Best move: Qh2# — queen g3→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/1ppkb3/3p1p2/3Pp3/P1P1Pp2/2N2Pq1/5QP1/R4RKr w - - 10 27

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