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

Rating 450 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook b8; pawns c6/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g6; queen c5; bishop b5; pawns c7/e4/e5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook b8→g8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen c5→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen d7→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1R6/2pQ2pp/2P2pk1/1bq1p3/4p3/4P3/5PPP/6K1 w - - 2 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.