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

Rating 1260 · Intermediate · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen e6; rooks d4/h1; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/f8; bishops a6/c5; pawns a7/c4/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rh4# — rook d4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/p1q3pp/b3Qp2/2b5/2pR3N/8/PPP2PPP/2K4R b - - 2 22

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