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

Position

White: king h4; queen e4; rooks e1/e7; pawns c4/d5/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen b7; rooks b3/g8; pawns c5/d6/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook e7→b7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: g5+ — pawn g6→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h4→h5).
3. Best move: Rxh3# — rook b3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short. The combination ends with Rxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/1q2R3/3p2pp/2pP4/2P1Q1PK/1r5P/8/4R3 w - - 1 40

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