Chess Puzzle #3CBf9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks a1/f1; bishop a3; knight e6; pawns a4/b5/c3/h3. Black: king c8; queen g6; rooks h2/h8; bishop f2; knight a7; pawns a5/b7/c7/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh2 — king h1→h2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen g6→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/npp3p1/4N1qp/pP1Qp3/P7/B1P4P/5b1r/R4R1K w - - 2 25

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