Chess Puzzle #41y5F — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h7; rook e4; bishop c3; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e6/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/c8; bishop d7; knight c4; pawns a5/b7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook e4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Rh8# — rook h4→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/1pqb3Q/4P1p1/p7/2n1R3/1NB5/PPP4P/2K5 b - - 0 26

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