Chess Puzzle #3bU8W — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1541 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queens c8/d1; rooks c1/f1; bishops e2/g1; knight a8; pawns a2/b4/d5/e4. Black: king h8; queen e8; rook f8; bishop g7; knights f6/h4; pawns a6/b7/e5/f4. White is ahead by 14 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf2 — king g2→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe4+ — knight f6→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
  3. Best move: Ng2# — knight h4→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Ng2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: N1Q1qr1k/1p4b1/p4n2/3Pp3/1P2Pp1n/8/P3B1K1/2RQ1RB1 w - - 1 27

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