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

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rooks g1/g2; pawns a3/b2/c3/e3/e5/f4/g3/h4. Black: king h7; queen e7; rooks g4/h8; pawns a4/b5/c4/d5/e6/f5/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen f2→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook g4→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh4 (pawn g3→h4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh4# — queen e7→h4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/4q1pk/4p3/1p1pPp1p/p1p2PrP/P1P1P1P1/1P3QRK/6R1 w - - 1 31

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