Chess Puzzle #EN9w0 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2345 · Expert · kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/d4; knight f6; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f4/h2. Black: king d8; queen g7; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knight g4; pawns a7/b6/d7/h5. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf2+ — knight g4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxe4+ — bishop b7→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rg2 (rook f2→g2).
  4. Best move: Qxg2# — queen g7→g2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2k3r/pb1p2q1/1p1Q1N2/7p/2BBPPn1/P7/1PP4P/R4R1K w - - 1 22

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