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

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; bishop d6; pawns a3/d4/e7/g2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen h7; rook e8; bishop c4; pawns a4/d5/e6/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd3 — bishop c4→d3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f4→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: exf8=Q# — pawn e7→f8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with exf8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/4P2q/3Bp1pp/3p4/p1bP1Q1P/P5P1/6P1/6K1 b - - 3 39

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