Chess Puzzle #25zX3 — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1257 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/g5; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/g7; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e7/f6/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg5 — pawn f6→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen d1→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qf7# — queen h5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1qk1nr/pbppp1bp/1p3p2/4N1Bp/3PP3/8/PPP2PP1/RN1QKB1R b KQkq - 1 7

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.