Chess Puzzle #1BCLM — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 989 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rook f1; bishop d3; knight e2; pawns a3/b4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook a8; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d4/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rf8# — rook f1→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/pp1n2p1/1q2p2p/4P3/1P1p4/P2B4/2Q1N1PP/5R1K b - - 0 22

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