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

Rating 1123 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen h8; bishops e3/f3; knight e6; pawns d4/e5/f2/g4. Black: king f8; queen b1; bishop e8; knights e7/g8; pawns a3/b6/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe6 — pawn f7→e6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh6+ — bishop e3→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f8→f7).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen h8→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4bknQ/4np2/1p2N1p1/3pP3/3P2P1/p3BB2/5PK1/1q6 b - - 0 36

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.