Chess Puzzle #2N3C2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rook b7; knight e4; pawns b2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook f8; bishop h4; pawns e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1R3pp1/7p/3Qp3/4N2b/3Pq2P/1P4PK/8 b - - 0 28

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