Chess Puzzle #0zYQ8 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1147 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/d1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; bishops d5/g7; pawns a6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight b1→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen d4→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd1 (knight c3→d1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Re1# — rook e8→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/5pbp/p5p1/3b4/3q4/6Q1/PP3PPP/RNBR2K1 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.