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

Rating 1211 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e6; rook a2; knight f3; pawns f2/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen c1; rook d1; knight g6; pawns g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra8 — rook a2→a8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook d1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
  3. Best move: Qf1# — queen c1→f1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/6pk/4Q1np/8/8/5NPP/R4P1K/2qr4 w - - 1 35

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.