Chess Puzzle #DOQue — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1401 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king a2; queen b7; rooks d3/h1; knight d4; pawns c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rook a3; knight c4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa3 — rook d3→a3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa3+ — queen c5→a3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a2→b1).
  3. Best move: Nd2# — knight c4→d2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Nd2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1Q3ppp/4p3/2qp4/2nN4/r2R1P2/K1P3PP/7R w - - 0 26

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.