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

Rating 1006 · Beginner · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d1/e2; bishop c1; knight h4; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/f7; bishop c3; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook a8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen g3→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r6k/pp1n1rpp/1qp2p2/4p3/3p3N/1PbP2QP/P1P1RPP1/2BR2K1 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.