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

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook d1; bishop a7; knight b2; pawns a2/b6/c5/f3. Black: king c8; queen c6; rooks d7/g2; bishop e5; pawns b7/e3/h2/h4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook g2→b2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f5→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d7→d8).
3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen f8→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2k5/Bp1r4/1Pq5/2P1bQ2/7p/4pP2/PN4rp/3R3K b - - 1 32

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