Chess Puzzle #2sh5a — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1343 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook f1; bishops d3/e5; pawns a2/c3/c4/d5/g2. Black: king g8; queen h8; rooks f7/g7; knight g4; pawns c5/e7/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight g4→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen e6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6kq/4prr1/4Q3/2pPB3/2P3n1/2PB3p/P5P1/5RK1 b - - 3 42

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.