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

Rating 1266 · Intermediate · epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f1; bishop b8; knight c4; pawns a2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c3; rooks d8/h8; bishops c6/f8; knight d5; pawns b7/e6/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb6+ — knight c4→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Nxb6 (knight d5→b6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qc7# — queen g3→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1Bkr1b1r/1p3pp1/2b1p3/3n3p/2N5/2qP2Q1/P1P2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 1 16

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