Chess Puzzle #2AAXE — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rook e1; bishops b2/d3; knight d1; pawns b4/d5/e4/f3/h2. Black: king h6; queen f7; rook e8; bishops b6/h3; knight a6; pawns b7/c7/d6/g3/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen f7→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h1→h2).
3. Best move: Qg2# — queen f3→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/1pp2q2/nb1p3k/3P2pp/1P2P3/2QB1Ppb/1B5P/3NR2K w - - 0 30

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