Chess Puzzle #A53TH — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks c1/f1; bishops b5/h2; knight g1; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/f3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/h6; knights b6/b8; pawns a5/d6/e7/f5/g3/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f3→f4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh2 (queen e2→h2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h6→h2, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn4k1/4p2p/1n1p3r/pB3p1q/3P4/P3PPp1/1P2Q2B/2R2RNK w - - 0 26

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