Chess Puzzle #DUazu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d6/e8; pawns g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook c4; knight c5; pawns b6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook d6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qg8# — queen g3→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4R1k1/5pp1/1p1R3p/2n5/2r5/6QP/1q4P1/6K1 b - - 3 36

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