Chess Puzzle #DQVB8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1412 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook a2; pawns a4/b4/c5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f4; rook f8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen d5→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen f4→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen d3→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxd1# — queen c1→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r2/ppp5/3p4/2PQp2p/PP2Pq2/8/R5PP/6K1 w - - 1 25

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.