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

Rating 1342 · Intermediate · hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop e5; knight c6; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight c6→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qf6# — queen f3→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p2nbp1p/1pN1p1pP/4B3/2q5/2P2Q2/PP3PP1/2KR3R b - - 3 19

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