Chess Puzzle #8GImM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1462 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/e1; bishop g2; knights f3/h6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g3/h5. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/f6; knights c6/h7; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/e6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king f8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen e4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  3. Best move: Nf7# — knight h6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqrk2/1p5n/p1n1pb1N/2p4P/3pQ3/3P1NP1/PPP2PB1/R3R1K1 b - - 1 19

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.