Chess Puzzle #38xR2 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks f1/g5; bishop a4; pawns g2/h3/h7. Black: king h8; queen a3; rooks c3/f8; bishop b6; pawns a6/b7/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen c2→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook c3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen a3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1p3p1P/pb6/6R1/B7/q1r4P/2Q3P1/5R1K w - - 1 32

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