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

Rating 672 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen c3; rooks c1/h1; bishops f4/g2; pawns a2/b4/f2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d3/e8; pawns a7/b6/c7/g6/g7/h2. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen c3→c4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d3→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook c1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen d7→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/p1pq2p1/1p4p1/8/1P3B2/2Qr4/P4PBp/2R2K1R w - - 0 30

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.