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

Rating 1596 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d4; rooks e1/g1; bishop c2; knight d7; pawns a2/b3/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks e8/f8; bishop b7; knight h5; pawns a5/b4/e3/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight d7→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh3# — queen e6→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/1b1N3p/4q1p1/p6n/1pPQ4/1P2p3/P1B3PP/4R1RK w - - 0 37

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