Chess Puzzle #3SVAN — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1190 · Beginner · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; knights d7/e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop f2; knight b8; pawns a7/b5/c6/d5/g6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight d7→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen h4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxh3# — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/p2N2pp/2p3p1/1p1pN3/3P2Pq/1Q2P2P/PP3bK1/R4R2 w - - 2 19

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.