Chess Puzzle #11Igy — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 990 · Beginner · clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks c1/h1; knights d2/h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/g6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight h4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rh8# — rook h1→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqr1k1/pp2b1pp/2p3p1/4p3/7N/1QP1P1P1/PP1N1PP1/2R1K2R b K - 3 18

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