Chess Puzzle #2KFEF — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1277 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d6; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g4. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook c8; bishops b7/g7; knights d7/g6; pawns a6/b5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg6 — queen d6→g6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen c4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Qxb2# — queen c2→b2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qxb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b1n2b1/p2Q2np/1p1N4/2q1P1P1/4BP2/PPP5/1K1R3R 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.