Chess Puzzle #25y1e — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 471 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/f1; bishop d5; pawns a2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d8/e5; pawns a5/d6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfe1 — rook f1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e5→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen e7→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/4qpp1/3p3p/p2Br3/2PQ4/8/P4PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 13 26

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.