Chess Puzzle #sGGUx — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook e1; knight g6; pawns a2/b6/d4/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; bishop e6; knights a6/c3; pawns b7/c6/g7/h3. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen d5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight g6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qh4# — queen f4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p4p1/nPp1b1N1/3q4/3P1Q2/2n2PPp/P6P/4R1K1 b - - 2 33

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