Chess Puzzle #2JhV9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 902 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; bishop b2; pawns a2/c2/e5/f4/g6. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d7/d8; pawns a7/b6/c4/d2/g7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/p2rq1p1/1p4P1/4P2Q/2p2P2/8/PBPp4/6K1 b - - 1 31

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.