Chess Puzzle #MLBFB — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1560 · Intermediate · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks d1/f1; bishop c2; knights e2/f4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d8/f8; bishops c7/e6; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/d5/f6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight f4→e6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh2# — queen d6→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1pb2p2/p2qbppp/3pn3/5N2/1QP1P2P/PPB1NPP1/3R1RK1 w - - 6 21

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