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

Rating 1214 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook a1; bishop c1; pawns a3/b2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g3; rook d3; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf1 — king g1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d3→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd1 (queen e2→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf2# — queen g3→f2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp3pp1/7p/2b5/4P3/P2r2qP/1P2QPP1/R1B3K1 w - - 0 22

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