Chess Puzzle #25PxR — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/d1; knight f5; pawns a3/b5/e3/f2/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks c2/c8; knight h3; pawns a4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook c2→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king h2→h3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qg2# — queen b7→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1q4p1/7p/1P2QN2/p5PP/P3P2n/2r2P2/R2R2K1 w - - 3 39

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