Chess Puzzle #0LjOD — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1330 · Intermediate · discovered attack, interference, mate, mate in 2, opening, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/d7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe8 — queen d8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f7→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen h5→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, interference, mate, mate in 2, opening, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq3r/ppppnNpk/7p/2bP3Q/3p4/8/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 6 12

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