Chess Puzzle #5PMpf — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rooks g6/h6; bishop g3; pawns a2/b2/e3/e5/f2. Black: king g8; queen f1; rooks c8/f7; knight g7; pawns b5/g4/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen d5→e6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f1→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Rc1# — rook c8→c1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5rn1/6RR/1p1QP2p/6p1/4P1B1/PP3P1K/5q2 w - - 5 40

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