Chess Puzzle #9zGw9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1525 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishop f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/f6/g5/h4. Black: king h7; queen f4; rooks b8/e8; bishops a6/h6; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen f4→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qg7# — queen h6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r2r3/p4p1k/bp2pP1b/2pp1BPQ/5q1P/3P4/PPP2P2/R3R1K1 b - - 0 26

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.