Chess Puzzle #39Ibe — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b5; rooks a2/f1; knight d4; pawns b4/c3/e5/g2. Black: king h7; queen f4; rooks e8/g4; bishops b6/f3; pawns e6/f5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf3 — knight d4→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook g4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Nh2 (knight f3→h2).
3. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h4→h2, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/7k/1b2p2p/1Q2Pp2/1P1N1qr1/2P2b2/R5P1/5R1K w - - 0 39

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