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

Rating 1071 · Beginner · endgame, epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g3; queen c3; rooks a1/h1; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2. Black: king h6; queen h5; rook f3; bishop h3; pawns a7/c7/d5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf3 — knight e5→f3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen h5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g3→h2).
  3. Best move: Qg2# — queen g4→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/p1p4p/6pk/3pN2q/8/2Q1PrKb/PP3P2/R6R w - - 21 33

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.