Chess Puzzle #1J8M3 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen g4; bishops c1/d5; knight b1; pawns b2/c3/e3/h3. Black: king b8; queen c7; rook f8; bishop h2; knight e4; pawns g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen g4→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen c7→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
3. Best move: Rf1# — rook f8→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3r2/2q3pp/8/3B4/4n1Q1/2P1P2P/1P4Kb/1NB5 w - - 0 28

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.