Chess Puzzle #3EUlm — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1378 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks a1/a4; bishop a6; knight b4; pawns c3/h2. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks a8/g2; bishops e4/g7; pawns d6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen f3→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook g2→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qf2# — queen b2→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/6bp/B2p2p1/4p3/RN2b3/2P2Q2/1q4rP/R6K w - - 0 27

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.