Chess Puzzle #3SEC6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/d6; pawns a2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c4; rooks b8/g8; pawns a4/b4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen c4→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook d6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen e3→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4rk/6p1/3R3p/8/ppq5/4Q2P/P4PP1/R5K1 b - - 1 30

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