Chess Puzzle #12vEz — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1134 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks c1/f1; bishop e3; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king b8; rooks d3/h8; bishop f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxa7+ — bishop e3→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
  3. Best move: Rc8# — rook c1→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3b1r/pp3ppp/4pn2/1N6/8/3rB1P1/PP3P1P/2R2RK1 b - - 5 18

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