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

Rating 936 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/h7; bishop b2; knight b1; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c6/e7; knight e4; pawns a7/c4/d5/e6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h5→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/p3bp1R/2b1p3/3p4/2p1nP2/1P2P3/PBPP2PP/RN1Q2K1 b - - 0 14

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.