Chess Puzzle #1ZFGj — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1265 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a1/e4; bishops b3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen e6→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
  3. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h3→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/2q1n1b1/p1n1Q2p/6B1/4R3/1BP5/PP3PPP/R5K1 b - - 0 22

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.