Chess Puzzle #1buN3 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 418 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, master, mate, mate in 1, one move.

Position

White: king h2; queen e3; bishop c2; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c7; bishop g6; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc2 — bishop g6→c2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8# — queen e3→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, master, mate, mate in 1, one move. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/ppq3pp/2p3b1/8/5n2/2P1Q1NP/PPB3PK/8 b - - 2 31

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.