Chess Puzzle #3W32W — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1277 · Intermediate · double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g5; rooks a1/h1; bishop b5; knight f6; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/f5/g2/h4. Black: king e7; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knight c6; pawns d6/e5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen a5→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd5+ — knight f6→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
  3. Best move: Nc7# — knight d5→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4b1r/3bkp1p/2np1N2/qB2pPQ1/7P/2P5/PP3PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 19

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