Chess Puzzle #2SDL6 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f4; rooks a1/f1; knights d2/h4; pawns a2/e5/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c3; rooks g2/g8; bishop e6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg2 — knight h4→g2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen c3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen h3→g2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/pp3p1p/2n1b3/3pP3/5Q1N/2q4P/P2N1PrK/R4R2 w - - 0 23

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