Chess Puzzle #5897S — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1352 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king b3; rook c7; bishop g2; knight b5; pawns a6/b4/c2/d3. Black: king b8; rooks e2/e8; bishop f6; knight c8; pawns a7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg2 — rook e2→g2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rb7+ — rook c7→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
  3. Best move: Nc7# — knight b5→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1kn1r3/p1R5/P4bp1/1N5p/1P6/1K1P4/2P1r1B1/8 b - - 9 45

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