Chess Puzzle #07q1J — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 984 · Beginner · corner mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen b3; knights c5/g2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f4/g3. Black: king f7; queen h2; rook e8; bishop g7; pawns a6/b5/f5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king f7→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen b3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
  3. Best move: Nd7# — knight c5→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

corner mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Nd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/5kb1/p5p1/1pN2p1p/5P2/1QP3P1/PP3KNq/8 b - - 1 36

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.