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

Rating 847 · Beginner · deflection, discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b3/h6; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; bishop d4; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e5→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5kr/pp3p1p/1n4pB/4q3/3bN3/1B4P1/PP3P1P/R3R1K1 b - - 7 20

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