Chess Puzzle #5AhQI — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1092 · Beginner · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f1; rook d4; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/f3/g3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rook e8; knight g5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg2 — king g1→g2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen e6→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  3. Best move: Nxf3# — knight g5→f3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Nxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp3pp1/4q2p/6n1/2PR4/5PP1/PPB2P2/5QK1 w - - 1 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.