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

Rating 1411 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e8; rooks c1/g1; bishop a8; pawns a2/c7/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen e2; rook f4; knight f1; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c8=Q — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight f1→g3, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh5# — queen e2→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: B3Q3/p1P2ppk/4p2p/8/5r2/8/P3q1PP/2R2nRK w - - 3 35

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.