Chess Puzzle #3Ucdq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1282 · Intermediate · discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/f1; bishop g2; knight d5; pawns a3/b4/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks c8/d8; bishop e6; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/e3/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook c8→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen d3→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/pp3ppp/1n2b3/3Nq3/1P2P3/P2Qp1P1/6BP/2R2RK1 b - - 6 22

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