Chess Puzzle #2nAu4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c3/e2; knight e4; pawns a3/d5/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks f8/h4; bishop e7; pawns a7/c7/f3/g4/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg1 — rook f1→g1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h6→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p1p1b2p/7q/3PP3/4N1pr/P1BQ1p1P/4BPPK/R4R2 w - - 0 33

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