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

Position

White: king h1; queen a7; rooks e1/e3; bishop f1; pawns g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen b2; rook h8; knight b6; pawns c4/e6/f5/g3. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e3→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h8→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh2# — queen b2→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/Q7/1n2p3/5p2/2p5/4R1pP/1q4P1/4RB1K w - - 0 35

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