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

Rating 1581 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks c1/c2; knight f2; pawns a3/b4/d5/g2. Black: king c8; queen e3; rook g8; bishop h2; pawns a7/b7/c7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh2 — king g1→h2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen e3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxg2# — queen g3→g2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/ppp5/8/3P4/1PQ5/P3q3/2R2NPb/2R3K1 w - - 0 30

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.