Chess Puzzle #2IxY6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen b4; bishop e4; knights e5/f3; pawns b3/d4/f2/f4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook h1; bishop a6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen b4→e7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen a1→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king g2→g3).
3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen f1→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p4p1p/bp2p1p1/4N3/1Q1PBPP1/1P3N1P/5PK1/q6r w - - 5 30

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