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

Rating 701 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e5; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knights d5/e2; pawns a3/b2/c2/f3/g2/h6. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks d6/d8; bishops b7/f6; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight d5→f6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d6→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook h1→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen d7→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/pb1q3p/1p1r1bpP/2nNQ3/2B5/P4P2/1PP1N1P1/2KR3R w - - 1 23

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.