Chess Puzzle #3H5hO — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rook g6; bishop c2; pawns a2/c4/d5/f4. Black: king h8; queen a1; rook g8; bishops d7/g7; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe1 — queen a1→e1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/pp1b2b1/3p2Rp/2pP4/2P2P2/3Q4/P1B4K/q7 b - - 1 29

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