Chess Puzzle #1uXV3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 985 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h3; queen b8; rook g3; pawns d4/e3/f4/g5/h5. Black: king h7; queen b4; rook d7; pawns b7/d5/f6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe1 — queen b4→e1. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g6+ — pawn g5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: hxg6# — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with hxg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1Q6/1p1r1ppk/5p1p/3p2PP/1q1P1P2/4P1RK/8/8 b - - 0 37

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.