Chess Puzzle #1JiRf — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen b3; rook f1; bishop f3; knight c6; pawns a4/b5/d3/e2/e4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen h6; rook f8; bishops c5/d7; pawns c7/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen h6→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen h3→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2pb2pp/2N4q/1Pb1p3/P3P3/1Q1P1BP1/4P1KP/5R2 w - - 5 30

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