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

Position

White: king e2; queen h1; rooks a1/h2; bishop f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3. Black: king g7; queen f5; rook f8; bishops h3/h4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh3 — rook h2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen f5→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e2→f1).
3. Best move: Qf2# — queen c2→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pp2p1k1/2p3p1/3p1q2/3P3b/2P1PB1b/PP2K2R/R6Q w - - 3 25

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