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

Rating 1135 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king c3; rooks a1/f7; knight e5; pawns b2/c4/d4/g4/h4. Black: king h6; queen d6; rook a8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight e7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g5+ — pawn g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
  3. Best move: Rxh7# — rook f7→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/ppp1nR1p/3q2pk/4N3/2PP2PP/2K5/1P6/R7 b - - 0 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.