Chess Puzzle #31GSH — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1572 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; rooks d1/h5; knights d5/f6; pawns a3/b4/c2/g6. Black: king h8; queen b7; rooks f7/f8; bishop e5; pawns a6/b5/c7/d6/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf6 — rook f7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Ne7# — knight d5→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Ne7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1qp2r1p/p2p1NP1/1p1Nb2R/1P6/P7/2P5/1K1R4 b - - 0 39

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