Chess Puzzle #4zOCW — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook a1; bishops e2/e3; knight b2; pawns c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rook h8; bishops d7/e7; knight b8; pawns c4/d5/e6/f6/g5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen c7→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1n2k2r/2qbb1p1/4pp2/3pP1p1/2pP4/2P1B3/1N1QBPPP/R5K1 w k - 0 20

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