Chess Puzzle #1XGaj — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/g1; knights f3/h2; pawns a5/b4/c5/e4/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks g4/g8; bishop a7; pawns a6/b5/c7/d4/d6/f4/f6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rh4# — rook g4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/b1p5/p2p1p1p/PpP4q/1P1pPpr1/5N2/2Q2PPN/R5RK w - - 0 32

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