Chess Puzzle #CtGs4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen d3; rooks f2/f3; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c3. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks e1/e8; pawns a7/b7/c5/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg3 — rook f3→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen g4→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king c2→b2).
  3. Best move: Qc1# — queen d1→c1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp4pp/5p2/2p5/6q1/1PPQ1R2/P1KN1R2/4r3 w - - 2 37

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.