Chess Puzzle #1C6Ty — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen g6; rooks h2/h3; bishop e5; pawns b2/c4/d5/f3/f4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks e3/e7; bishop d6; pawns a2/a4/c5/f5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: R2h7# — rook h2→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with R2h7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2q1r2p/3b2Q1/2pPBp2/p1P2P2/4rP1R/pP5R/K7 b - - 0 33

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