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

Rating 1171 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/g6. Black: king h7; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights d5/e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f7→g6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h6→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/pppp1p1k/4pqPp/3nn3/3P4/3B4/PPPQ1PP1/RN2K2R b KQ - 0 13

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.