Chess Puzzle #0Zz5m — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1145 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/f1; bishop c4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f2/g3. Black: king e8; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f7/g4/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g4→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d3→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp3p2/2p3p1/4p1q1/2B1Pbp1/2PQ1NP1/PP3P2/3R1RK1 b kq - 2 17

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.