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

Rating 1375 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks c8/e1; bishop b3; pawns b6/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rook f7; bishops e2/f8; knight h5; pawns d6/e5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen h3→e6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qe3# — queen h6→e3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2R2bk1/5rp1/1P1p3q/3Pp2n/4P3/1B5Q/4b1PP/4R2K w - - 2 39

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