Chess Puzzle #7OLum — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen h5; rooks a1/g1; bishops c1/c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f5/f8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight d7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen h5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop f8→g7).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1b1r/pp1n3k/2p1p2p/5b1Q/2BP4/8/PPP2P1P/R1B1K1R1 b Q - 3 14

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.