Chess Puzzle #KQWuz — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1658 · Advanced · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen a7; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/c5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g6; queen g4; rook d1; knights b8/f6; pawns c6/f4/g5/h7. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight c3→d1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen g4→d1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king f1→f2).
  3. Best move: Nxe4# — knight f6→e4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxe4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1n6/Q6p/2p2nk1/2P3p1/4Ppq1/2N5/PPP3PP/R1Br1K1R w - - 1 17

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.