Chess Puzzle #0yWXF — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 928 · Beginner · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook e8; bishop d3; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook a8; bishops c7/c8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf8 — knight g6→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1R1k1/ppb2ppp/2p2pn1/8/3P1q2/2PB1N1P/PPQ2PP1/6K1 b - - 1 16

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