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

Rating 1497 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen e5; rooks d1/e6; bishop d3; pawns c2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f8; rooks d8/h8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight f6→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc6+ — rook e6→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ba6# — bishop d3→a6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Ba6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1q1r/pp4pp/2p1Rn2/3pQ3/3P4/2PB4/2PK2PP/3R4 b - - 5 19

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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