Chess Puzzle #Epo3O — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1541 · Intermediate · intermezzo, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight e5; pawns b5/d3/f2/h2/h4. Black: king c8; queen f3; rooks d8/h8; bishop b7; knight c3; pawns b6/c5/f7/g4/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf3 — knight e5→f3, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight c3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Bxf3# — bishop b7→f3, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

intermezzo, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Bxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1b3p2/1p5p/1Pp1N3/6pP/1QnPBq2/5P1P/R4RK1 w - - 0 24

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