Chess Puzzle #4NWsA — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1189 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; rook d8; bishop f7; knight b1; pawns a2/b4/c5/f5/g4/h3. Black: king h7; rook a8; bishops a1/c8; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/c7/g5/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight e7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg6+ — bishop f7→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
  3. Best move: Rh8# — rook d8→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bR4/1pp1nBpk/p7/2P2Pp1/1P4P1/7P/P7/bN5K b - - 0 23

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