Chess Puzzle #M2CH1 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; rooks c1/c4; knight d6; pawns a2/b3/e5/f4/h2. Black: king a3; queen f2; pawns e2/e6/f7/g6. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight d6→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook c1→f1, captures queen).
3. Best move: exf1=Q# — pawn e2→f1, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with exf1=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/3Np1p1/4P3/2R2P2/kP6/P3pq1P/2R4K w - - 5 41

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