Chess Puzzle #1H89C — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 776 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c8; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e4. Black: king b8; queen d8; rooks a8/g8; pawns a7/b7/d6. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop c8→h3).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen h4→h3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rkBq2r1/pp6/3p4/8/2Q1P3/2N5/PP6/R4RK1 w - - 1 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.