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

Rating 1013 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rook d1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/e4/f2/g6. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f6; bishop e7; knights b8/c5; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/e5/g7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn1q3k/2p1b1p1/1p1p1rP1/p1nPp2Q/4P3/2N1B3/PPP2P2/2KR4 b - - 1 21

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.