Chess Puzzle #3MBtm — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen g3; rook g1; knight d5; pawns a3/d3/e4. Black: king g8; queen g5; rook a2; bishop g7; pawns a6/b5/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxa2 — king a1→a2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd2+ — queen g5→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb3 (king a2→b3).
3. Best move: Qb2# — queen d2→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6b1/p5p1/1p1N2q1/4P3/P2P2Q1/r7/K5R1 w - - 2 36

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