Chess Puzzle #2PE1t — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; knight g6; pawns a3/b2/d4/e5/h2. Black: king h8; queen c4; rooks b8/g8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/c6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h3→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4rk/pp4bp/2p3N1/4P3/2qP4/P4Q2/1P5P/3R1R1K b - - 8 32

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