Chess Puzzle #3S5rk — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knights c3/d2; pawns a3/c5/e3/f2/f6. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/g2; bishop h3; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/d5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh2+ — rook g2→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qg2# — queen g6→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4nk1/pp6/5Pqp/2Pp4/8/P1N1P2b/3N1Pr1/R2Q1R1K w - - 2 23

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