Chess Puzzle #d815h — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1937 · Advanced · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen d2; rooks a1/f5; bishop g2; knight d5; pawns a2/b5/c4/d3/e2. Black: king e8; queen g3; rooks a8/h8; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen d2→g5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh1 (bishop g2→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nh2# — knight g4→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Nh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/ppp5/3p4/1P1N1Rp1/2P3n1/3P2q1/P2QP1B1/R4K2 w kq - 0 21

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