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

Rating 1199 · Beginner · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen c2; rook f1; bishops e3/g6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e6/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks e7/f8; bishop e5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e7→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppq1r1p1/2p1P1Bp/3pb3/3P3P/2P1B3/PPQ3K1/5R2 b - - 0 27

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