Chess Puzzle #1p7nM — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1249 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop g3; knights d7/g5; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa6 — queen b6→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d7→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d3→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp1Nbpp1/1qn1pn1p/3p2N1/3P4/1PPQ2B1/P4PPP/R4RK1 b - - 1 18

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.