Chess Puzzle #CQbv0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1436 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/f7; knight e7; pawns a2/b3/d4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/e8; knights d7/e4; pawns a3/a6/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook e8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e7→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh3# — queen g4→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/3nNRpp/pq2p3/3p4/3Pn1Q1/pP2P3/P5PP/R5K1 b - - 1 27

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