Chess Puzzle #2JAfc — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1174 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen d4; rooks d1/f1; bishop e4; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c4/h2. Black: king e7; queen g5; rooks a8/d8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd6+ — queen d4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
  3. Best move: Nc7# — knight b5→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r4/pp1bkppp/4p3/1N1p2q1/2PQB3/8/PPK4P/3R1R2 b - - 0 21

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.