Chess Puzzle #3gc7d — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1227 · Intermediate · clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks e1/h1; bishop f1; knight f3; pawns d4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks c2/f8; knight e4; pawns d5/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f3→e5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook c2→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg2 (bishop f1→g2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf2# — queen b2→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/6pp/4Q3/3p1p2/3Pn3/4PN2/1qr3PP/4RBKR w - - 4 26

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.