Chess Puzzle #1BLgo — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 633 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishop c7; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks b8/e6; bishops f3/f8; pawns a7/c6/e4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh2 — king g1→h2, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh6+ — rook e6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Rh1# — rook h6→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3bk1/p1B3pp/2p1r3/2P5/3Pp3/4NbP1/PPQ2P1q/R3R1K1 w - - 0 22

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.