Chess Puzzle #WdX28 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h7; rooks e1/g7; bishop d5; pawns b3/c4/f2/h3. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks a2/f7; knight e5; pawns b7/d4/d6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg7 — rook f7→g7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
3. Best move: Qxg8# — queen h8→g8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/1p2qrRQ/3p3p/3Bn3/2Pp4/1P5P/r4P2/4R2K b - - 0 33

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