Chess Puzzle #25obU — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c8/f2; knight d4; pawns b5/d3/e4/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks h5/h6; knight f8; pawns b7/d5/f7/g4/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h5→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
3. Best move: R6h2# — rook h6→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with R6h2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2R2nk1/1p3p1p/7r/1P1p3r/3NPPp1/3P2q1/2Q2R1P/6K1 w - - 0 31

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