Chess Puzzle #07l35 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 815 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook d1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rook e8; bishop c7; pawns a6/b6/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen e6→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2b2pp1/ppp1q2p/8/3P4/2N2Q1P/PP3PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 25

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.