Chess Puzzle #AK5mU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g3; rook g2; bishop c4; knight h5; pawn b3. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a1/f8; pawns f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5pp1/7p/7N/2Bq4/1P4Q1/6RK/r7 b - - 5 35

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