Chess Puzzle #5L2xw — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1373 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rook f1; bishops b2/c4; knight e7; pawns a2/b3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c2; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 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 e7→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh4# — queen g3→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/1p2N1pp/p2p1p2/2p5/2B1P3/1P4Q1/PBn2PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 17

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