Chess Puzzle #4k99z — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1403 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, opening, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks b1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knight e6; pawns a2/c2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks e8/h8; bishop g6; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/c7/d6/f4/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb8 — knight c6→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen e2→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Nxa6 (knight b8→a6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxa6# — bishop f1→a6, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, opening, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Bxa6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r2r/p1pqn2p/2npN1b1/8/5p2/2P4P/P1P1Q1P1/1RB1KB1R b K - 4 17

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.