Chess Puzzle #1mz1e — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1177 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e4; rook d1; bishop d2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/e5/f4. Black: king b8; queen d4; rook a8; knight b5; pawns b4/b6/c5/c7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh1 — rook d1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Na3+ — knight b5→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qa1# — queen d4→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qa1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rk6/2p5/1p6/1np1P3/1p1qQP2/1P1P4/P1PB4/1K1R4 w - - 3 29

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.