Chess Puzzle #3IZXI — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1117 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/h8; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/d5/f5/g4/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh8 — king g8→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen d1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn3rkR/pp2b1p1/8/q2p1pN1/3P2p1/4P3/PP3PK1/RN1Q4 b - - 3 18

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.