Chess Puzzle #1Vpw9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 679 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen c7; rooks g4/h1; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4. Black: king h6; queen d3; rook f1; knight f7; pawns a7/b7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf1 — rook h1→f1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen d3→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qc1+ (queen c7→c1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxc1# — queen f1→c1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/ppQ2n2/6pk/3P3p/4P1R1/3q4/PP6/K4r1R w - - 3 32

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.