Chess Puzzle #4yVXv — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1262 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, opera mate, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rook c1; bishop e6; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f4; rook f8; bishop a6; pawns a7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen c6→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f4→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook c1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, opera mate, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p5p1/b1Q1B2p/3P4/4Pq2/8/PP4PP/2R3K1 w - - 3 30

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.