Chess Puzzle #2BsMa — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1116 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h4; rooks a1/h1; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/g7; pawns a7/b6/c7/e7/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop g7→f6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pbp1ppb1/1p3Pp1/6N1/2P4Q/2Nq4/PP3PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 16

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.