Chess Puzzle #D5ca8 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks d1/e1; bishop g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen b8; rook f8; bishop d6; knight h3; pawns a7/b7/c5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg2 — king g1→g2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f8→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king g2→h3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxh2# — rook f2→h2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1q3r1k/pp4pp/3b4/2pQ2B1/6P1/2P4n/PP3P1P/3RR1K1 w - - 7 23

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