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

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/g2; knights c3/e4; pawns a2/b3/d3/e2/g3. Black: king f7; queen d8; rooks a8/h2; bishops c5/c8; knights b6/c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f5/g4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh2 — king h1→h2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen d8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop g2→h3).
3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h8→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq4/ppp2k2/1nn5/2b1pp2/4N1p1/1PNP2P1/PB2P1Br/R2Q1R1K w - - 0 17

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