Chess Puzzle #3pfR4 — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1187 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h6; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knights f6/g5; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop c2; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf6 — pawn e7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/ppp1pp1p/2np1NpQ/6N1/3PP3/8/PPb2PPP/R3KB1R b KQ - 0 11

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.