Chess Puzzle #18NHZ — Beginner, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1020 · Beginner · endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f3; queen e2; rook d5; pawns a4/g2/h3. Black: king f6; queen c3; bishop e5; pawns a6/f4/g5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king f3→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen c3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king g4→h5).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen g3→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p4k2/3Rb1p1/P4p2/2q2K1P/4Q1P1/8 w - - 11 50

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.