Chess Puzzle #42rmo — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks e1/f1; knight e4; pawns a4/b2/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks a8/d6; bishop d4; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/c5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight e4→d6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qh5# — queen g4→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp6/3r4/2pP3n/P1PbN1q1/8/1P1Q2PP/4RR1K w - - 0 27

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