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

Rating 1582 · Intermediate · intermezzo, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d8; rooks d1/h1; bishops e2/e3; knights c7/f3; pawns b2/c2/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishops e7/h3; knights b8/g8; pawns a5/c6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd8 — bishop e7→d8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5+ — bishop e3→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Ne7 (knight g8→e7).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

intermezzo, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1Q1knr/2N1bpp1/2p4p/p3P3/8/4BNPb/qPP1BP1P/2KR3R b - - 3 19

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