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

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks a1/e4; bishop e5; pawns a3/g6/h2. Black: king h8; queen f2; rooks d8/f8; bishop c5; knight c7; pawns a7/b6/c3/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c2 — pawn c3→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h6→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/p1n3p1/1p4Pp/2b1B3/4R3/P1p4Q/5q1P/R6K b - - 0 34

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