Chess Puzzle #1HcuU — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1196 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen g3; rook c7; bishop e1; knight f4; pawns a2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b1; rooks a8/g8; knight b2; pawns a7/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe1 — queen b1→e1, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight f4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen g3→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/p1R3pp/4p3/8/3P1N2/6QP/Pn3PPK/1q2B3 b - - 1 28

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.