Chess Puzzle #0Axem — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 835 · Beginner · attack on f2/f7, epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knights b8/e7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nbd2 — knight b1→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf2+ — bishop c5→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  3. Best move: Qe3# — queen b6→e3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Qe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnb1k2r/pp2nppp/1q2p3/2bpP3/8/2P2N2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 1 7

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.