Chess Puzzle #0gc63 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; knight e2; pawns a6/d4/e3/f2/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks b2/c3; bishop d6; pawns c6/c7/d5/f6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f3→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qxh2# — queen f2→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p2p2/P1pb1p1p/3p2p1/3P1P2/2r1Pq2/1r2NP1P/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 25

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