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

Rating 1352 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/g3; bishop c2; knight e5; pawns a3/b4/d4/e3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; bishop c7; knight b6; pawns a7/b5/c6/d5/f5/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g7→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf5+ — bishop c2→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Nf7# — knight e5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/p1b3k1/1npq1p1p/1p1pNp2/1P1P1P2/P3P1RP/2B3P1/R5K1 b - - 1 23

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