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

Rating 1018 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop h7; knights c6/e5; pawns a2/b5/c3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights c5/d7; pawns a5/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Ne7# — knight c6→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Ne7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1bqn1ppB/1pN1p3/pPnpN3/8/2P1P3/P4PPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 17

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.