Chess Puzzle #J5ttc — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen h5; rooks g2/h1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/f5. Black: king h8; queen e3; rooks b8/f8; bishop e5; pawns a7/c5/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen e3→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh6# — rook h1→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/p4pp1/3p3p/2p1bP1Q/2B5/4q3/PP4R1/K6R b - - 3 30

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