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

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks f4/h4; pawns b3/c4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d2; rooks c8/g8; pawns b6/b7/c7/d6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rce8 — rook c8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3rk/1pp3p1/1p1p2Qp/8/2P2R1R/1P5P/3q2P1/6K1 b - - 3 31

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