Chess Puzzle #2FFZC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1356 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks e1/e7; pawns a2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks b8/f8; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/1p2Rpp1/p6p/3Q4/3P4/8/Pq3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 1 22

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.