Chess Puzzle #Ca0BC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rook f6; knight f5; pawns e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook f8; pawns a3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen f3→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qg7# — queen g4→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5ppp/5R2/5N2/8/p3PQP1/q4PKP/8 b - - 0 38

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