Chess Puzzle #5PID1 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/h5; knight f6; pawns a6/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rac1 — rook a1→c1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen d6→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: r5k1/5ppp/p2q1n2/3p3r/1P1N4/P3P3/4QPPP/R3R1K1 w - - 1 21

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