Chess Puzzle #HL71U — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1795 · Advanced · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks c2/d8; bishop g4; pawns a7/b7/e4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd1 (knight c3→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Re2# — rook c2→e2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Re2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp3ppp/8/4P3/P3p1b1/2N5/1Pr2PPP/R1B1KR2 w Q - 1 19

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