Chess Puzzle #2R95A — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 782 · Beginner · endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook f1; knight d2; pawns a2/a4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rook d3; knight f6; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen b4→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c2→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen c8→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p4ppp/4pn2/3p4/Pq1P4/3rP3/P1QN1PPP/5RK1 b - - 2 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.