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

Position

White: king g2; queen d2; rooks e8/f1; bishop f7; knight a8; pawns a2/b2/d5/f4/g5/h2. Black: king g7; queen d7; rook h4; bishop d4; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d2→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen d7→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
3. Best move: Ng3# — knight h5→g3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Ng3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: N3R3/pp1q1Bkp/3p2p1/2pP2Pn/3b1P1r/8/PP1Q2KP/5R2 w - - 7 31

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.