Chess Puzzle #1P8pm — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks e1/g7; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d6/e8; bishop b7; knight a6; pawns b5/c6/f6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen g3→d6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
3. Best move: Qxh4# — queen h5→h4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/1b4R1/n1pr1p2/1p1N3q/3P3P/P5Q1/1P3PP1/4R1K1 w - - 5 34

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