Chess Puzzle #F5BzP — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks g5/h3; knight h2; pawns a3/b2/c3/e3/f3. Black: king h8; queen f5; rooks d8/f8; bishop c7; pawns a4/b7/c6/d2/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook g5→f5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: d1=Q+ — pawn d2→d1, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nf1 (knight h2→f1).
3. Best move: Qxf1# — queen d1→f1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, promotion, short. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/1pb3pp/2p5/5qRQ/p7/P1P1PP1R/1P1p3N/7K w - - 0 39

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.