Chess Puzzle #2VFR8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 952 · Beginner · endgame, hook mate, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook h3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/h2. Black: king g8; rook f8; knights b6/h4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight h4→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Rxh7# — rook h3→h7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, hook mate, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppp2p1p/1n6/4P3/4N2n/7R/PPP4P/6K1 b - - 3 23

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