Chess Puzzle #1HXGs — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen b6; rook h5; bishop f4; knight e7; pawns a4/f2/g3. Black: king h8; queens c2/d1; rook f8; bishops a1/b3; pawn f7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh7 — queen c2→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h5→h7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh6# — queen b6→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/4Np2/1Q6/7R/P4B2/1b4P1/2q2PK1/b2q4 b - - 0 42

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