Chess Puzzle #2QJbU — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 911 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rook b7; knights c3/f3; pawns c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook e8; bishop g7; knight b5; pawns c6/e5/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb5 — knight c3→b5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d6→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Ne1 (knight f3→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen d1→e1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/QR3pb1/2pq2pp/1n2p3/4P3/2N2N2/2P2PPP/6K1 w - - 2 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.