Chess Puzzle #2geXU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1295 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rooks a1/h1; knight h7; pawns a3/c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks a8/h6; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qe8# — queen g6→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k2/1pq3pN/2n1p1Qr/p2pP3/3P4/P1P5/5PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 2 17

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