Closing Early

The "middle game" is one of the most important parts of a game and there are some strategic challenges to overcome.  (i.e. trading pieces, constant Queen and King checks, and forced moves).  Many beginners see a normal game of chess and figure that the end of the game is after 30 or so moves, yet sometimes a game can be won during the "middle game."  You just have to look for the strategy to deploy.

Here's a common "middle game" snapshot where white just moved it's Bishop to the g6 square, putting black's King in check.  Black figured on this being an easy capture and thereby captured white's bishop (hxg6).  Unfortunately for black, this was all a part of white's plan.

Obviously, the better move for black's King would have been Kd8 when put in check, but you live and learn...or so they say. 

too easy

Do you mean before hxg6?  I was talking about after the Bishop capture when the Queen moved to g6, moving to d8 would avoid the mate.