Chess Puzzle #0Mykg — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks a1/d1; bishop f1; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c5; rooks a8/d8; bishop b7; knight c2; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa1 — knight c2→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen h4→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r1k2/1b3pp1/p3p2p/1pq1P3/7Q/P1N5/1Pn3PP/R2R1B1K b - - 3 24

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