Chess Puzzle #02Nya — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1200 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook d6; bishops f2/f7; knight d1; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen a5; rook h8; bishop g7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f4/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd6 — pawn c7→d6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen e6→d6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
  3. Best move: Be6# — bishop f7→e6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Be6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3k3r/ppp2Bb1/2nRQ2p/q5p1/5p2/8/PPP2BPP/3N2K1 b - - 0 20

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