Chess Puzzle #01czg — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 742 · Beginner · back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook b1; bishop d4; knight g5; pawns c3/c5/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a3; rooks b2/f8; knight e7; pawns a7/c4/c6/d5/f4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook b1→b2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a3→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Rb1 (rook b2→b1).
  3. Best move: Qxb1# — queen a1→b1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxb1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kr2/p3n3/2p4Q/2PpP1N1/2pB1p2/q1P5/1r3PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 29

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.