Chess Puzzle #C51pb — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

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

Position

White: king g3; queen e2; rook h1; bishop d7; knights f3/g1; pawns d4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook f8; knights e3/g4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa6 — queen e2→a6, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5+ — knight e3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king g3→h3).
  3. Best move: Nf2# — knight g4→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3B1pp1/q3p3/3pP2p/3P1Pn1/4nNK1/4Q1PP/6NR w - - 9 25

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