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

Rating 1123 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen e2; rooks f2/f8; pawns a2/b2. Black: king h7; queen h3; bishop d4; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg2 — rook f2→g2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h3→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Rg1 (rook g2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg1# — queen h1→g1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5R2/pp4pk/2p4n/8/3b4/7q/PP2QR2/5K2 w - - 2 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.