Chess Puzzle #9TR3F — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook g1; bishop h6; knights c4/d6; pawns a4/b2/h4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks e2/f8; pawns a5/c5/c6/f5/g4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop h6→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen e7→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh3 (queen f3→h3).
3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/4q3/2pN3B/p1p2p2/P1N3pP/5Q2/1P2r3/6RK w - - 0 35

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