Chess Puzzle #4Y9DZ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1935 · Advanced · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; rooks c1/h1; bishop f4; knights b5/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; rooks d8/h8; bishops a6/f8; knights a4/f6; pawns a7/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king c8→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
  3. Best move: Nc7# — knight b5→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/pp2pp1p/b4np1/1N1P4/n2P1B2/5N2/PP3PPP/2R1K2R b K - 1 15

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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