Chess Puzzle #10X8E — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen d2; rooks c1/h1; bishop d5; pawns a3/b2/f5/g6. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks e8/f8; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook f8→f5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h1→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rr1k/pp4p1/1q4Pp/2nB1P2/8/P7/1P1Q4/2RK3R b - - 2 24

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