Chess Puzzle #5DrLu — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e6; rooks g1/g3; pawns b4/d5/f4/h3. Black: king g7; queen h4; rooks a2/h7; pawns a6/b5/d6/g4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh3 (rook g3→h3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh3# — rook h7→h3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/6kr/p2pQ3/1p1P4/1P3Ppq/6RP/r7/6RK w - - 3 42

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