Chess Puzzle #0Zo08 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knight f5; pawns a7/b6/d5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook f1→f5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h8→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh4# — queen d8→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/p4pp1/1p6/2bpPn2/8/8/PP4PP/RN1Q1R1K w kq - 0 18

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