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

Position

White: king f1; queen d8; pawns b3/c4/d5/g3/h2. Black: king g5; queen a2; bishop f5; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/h3/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king g5→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g4→f3).
3. Best move: Qf4# — queen h4→f4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qf4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3Q4/8/p2p3p/2pP1bk1/1pP5/1P4Pp/q6P/5K2 b - - 5 43

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