Chess Puzzle #043Mi — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen e8; rook h1; pawns b2/b3/g4. Black: king g7; queen e4; rook f7; bishop a6; knight f3; pawns b4/c6/e5/f4. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen e4→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen e8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king g7→g6).
3. Best move: Qh6# — queen h8→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/5rk1/b1p5/4p3/1p2qpP1/1P3n2/KP6/7R b - - 1 36

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.