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

Position

White: king h2; queen e1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/f1; pawns a2/b2/c5/e3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/h3; knights b8/e5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh3 — king h2→h3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen g5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h3→h2).
3. Best move: Nf3# — knight e5→f3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

corner mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn4k1/pp5p/2p3p1/2P1n1q1/4p3/4P2r/PP1B3K/R3QB1R w - - 0 23

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