Chess Puzzle #3P0Cs — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks a1/f1; knights e4/f6; pawns a2/b2/c3/h2. Black: king c8; queen h3; rooks f8/h8; bishop b6; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg4 — knight f6→g4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook a1→f1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen h3→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r1r/ppp4p/1b3N2/3Q4/4N1n1/2P4q/PP5P/R4R1K w - - 0 24

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.