Chess Puzzle #Hn3F7 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1534 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks a1/g5; knight b5; pawns a4/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; rooks f1/f8; bishop h4; knight g3; pawns a5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf1 — rook a1→f1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Rh1# — rook f1→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/6p1/3Q3p/pN4R1/P6b/6nP/1PP3P1/R4rK1 w - - 1 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.