Chess Puzzle #5QSgb — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c5; knights c3/d2; pawns a5/d4/e3/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks c6/e8; bishop f3; pawns a7/c7/e4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc6 — queen d5→c6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h5→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p1p2ppp/2r5/P1BQ4/3Pp1q1/2N1PbP1/3N1P1K/R4R2 w - - 0 27

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