Chess Puzzle #0mw0F — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; knight e6; pawns a4/c3/c6/g3/h2. Black: king d8; queen f7; rook b8; pawns a7/c7/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc8 — king d8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen e5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen f7→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen h8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1k4/p1p2q2/2P1N3/4Q3/P7/2P3Pp/7P/6K1 b - - 8 48

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