Chess Puzzle #0wd3k — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1175 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; bishop f1; pawns b3/c2/g3/h2. Black: king a5; queen f3; bishop c6; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd2+ — queen d8→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Qc3 (queen f3→c3).
  3. Best move: Qxc3# — queen d2→c3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxc3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3Q4/pp5p/2b5/k7/6n1/1P3qP1/2P4P/5BK1 b - - 1 31

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.