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

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks f1/f2; knight g6; pawns d4/g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks c7/f8; bishops c8/d6; pawns a6/b5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop d6→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f2→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/2r2p1p/p2b1QNP/1p1q4/3P4/8/5RP1/5RK1 b - - 2 33

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