Chess Puzzle #2kfU8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1539 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rook g1; knight e5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/f2/h3. Black: king g7; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf6 — king g7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg6+ — rook g1→g6, gives check. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg6# — queen d3→g6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/pp1nqpk1/2p4p/3pN3/3P4/2PQP2P/P4P2/2K3R1 b - - 1 20

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