Chess Puzzle #08gpo — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 587 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b6; rooks a1/e1; bishop h4; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c7/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e8; rooks a8/e5; bishop b7; pawns a6/c6/d7/g6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight b1→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e5→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen e8→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3q2k/1bPp2p1/pQp3pp/4r3/7B/8/PP3PPP/RN2R1K1 w - - 0 21

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.