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

Rating 1069 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks d1/f1; bishops e2/e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c5/f3/h2/h3. Black: king c8; queen f7; rook h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/c6/c7/e6/f6/h4/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh6 — bishop f8→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ba6+ — bishop e2→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pillsburys mate, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k2bnr/p1p2q1p/2p1pp2/2P5/7p/2N1BP1P/PP2B2P/3R1RK1 b - - 0 17

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