Chess Puzzle #9s93N — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1524 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight d6; pawns a3/b4/c5/e5/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d7/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen f3→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen h4→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen f7→f1).
  3. Best move: Ne2# — knight d4→e2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Ne2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bk3r/pp1p1pp1/2pN2p1/2P1P3/1P1n3q/P4Q2/6PP/R1B3KR w - - 2 20

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