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

Rating 1554 · Intermediate · fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks d1/f1; bishop e2; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/f3; bishop b7; knight g5; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop e2→f3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf3+ — bishop b7→f3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
  3. Best move: Nh3# — knight g5→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pbp3pp/1p2p3/6n1/3P4/2P2rN1/PP2BP1P/3R1R1K w - - 0 28

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