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

Rating 1493 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d6/e2; knight b5; pawns a3/b2/c4/d3/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop d6→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight d4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qh3# — queen e6→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp3pbp/3Bqnp1/1N6/2Pn4/P2P1P2/1P2BP1P/R2QK2R w KQ - 3 17

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