[Puzzle Road] Unbelievable, I missed that! (P5)

Welcome to puzzle road!

You told me the first puzzle was excellent, but the second and the third would be, as the fourth, too easy: let’s see if you can solve today’s puzzle! I searched one about a middlegame checkmate and found this one!
Be sure you won’t solve it the first second you see it! The solution is published in this article and I encourage you to read it again, if you didn’t understand everything at the first time. The explanation of the move is, as for the old puzzle, full and I hope you will enjoy this analysis.

5/ Unbelievable, I missed that! (Topic: sacrifice)

The objective for Black will be to checkmate naturally because White has a doubled isolated pawn and the castle of the king is completely destructed! Let’s see how to use that to our advantage!

First move: Qxe2 (!!)

GM Grandelius did not see that Giri could sacrifice his Queen on the e2-square! Played in 2015 by GM Anish Giri, the position has been made into the perfect Queen sacrifice puzzle and I have loved to share it with you today!
White needs to take the Queen with their Knight, but the d2-square is now not protected anymore and our Knight could possibly go there, who knows…?

Second move: Knight d2 + !

Excellent! The logical following of our Queen sacrifice after 2. Nxe2 is to check the white King. Only two possible moves for our opponent, GM Grandelius: 3. Ka1 or 3. Ka2. Both follow to the same result: a checkmate!

Third and last move of the game: Rook a1 + !

Who would not have done that? Just checkmate after 4. Qa2! The white king has not escape square anymore and our queen has done a great job! You too if you have solved this puzzle!

I hope you enjoyed the tactic and will follow this blog or send me a friend request to know when the tomorrow’s puzzle is posted!

Have a good day and see you tomorrow,
@Kyu13

More blogs written by @Kyu13:
The main question: How to become a stronger player?
The Scotch Game: A good opening?
Reach 2000 with this trick used by GMs!

Puzzle Road:
[Puzzle Road] Attack, Block and Take! (P1)
[Puzzle Road] Check the king for a good promotion! (P2)
[Puzzle Road] Bishops vs. Pawns: fight for a draw! (P3)
[Puzzle Road] Go out of my way! (P4)