Chess Puzzle #5K0CW — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1169 · Beginner · deflection, kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks d1/f1; bishops a3/d3; knight e5; pawns a4/b2/d4/e3/f2/g5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop d7; knights d5/g4; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen d8→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxf7# — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/1p1b1pp1/p3p3/3nN1P1/P2P2n1/B2BP3/1PQ2P2/3R1RK1 b - - 2 28

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