Chess Puzzle #24h8H — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f1; rooks a1/e1; bishop b2; pawns a3/b4/d4/e5/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks f2/h6; bishop d6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen f1→f2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h3→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p1p3pp/1p1b3r/3pP3/1P1P3q/P5PP/1B3r1K/R3RQ2 w - - 0 25

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