Chess Puzzle #2KHov — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1243 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e2/f4; knights c3/f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/f8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d6/e7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh5+ — bishop e2→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh5 (knight f6→h5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxh5# — queen d1→h5, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/pbpnp3/1p1p1n1p/5Np1/3P1B2/2N1P2P/PPP1BPP1/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 0 10

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.