Chess Puzzle #4tdRd — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1060 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a1/c1; bishop e2; pawns d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b6; queen d6; rooks c8/h8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen d6→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh1# — queen h2→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/1b3Q2/pk1qp3/1p1p4/3P4/4P3/4BPPP/R1R3K1 w - - 3 31

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.