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

Rating 1542 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks b2/d1; pawns a4/b3/h2. Black: king h8; queen g4; rook g5; bishop c7; pawns a7/b7/c5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook d1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe4+ — queen g4→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qg2 (queen d2→g2).
  3. Best move: Rxg2 — rook g5→g2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Qe4+.

Position data

FEN: 7k/ppb3p1/7p/2p3r1/P5q1/1P6/1R1Q3P/3R3K w - - 5 40

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.