Chess Puzzle #4WCv2 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1037 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks e8/f8; bishop d4; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f8→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
  3. Best move: Re1# — rook e8→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Re1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/pp4pp/8/8/3b2n1/5N2/PPP2PPP/R1B2K1R w - - 0 17

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