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

Rating 1417 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks f1/f7; bishop g6; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2. Black: king g8; rooks c8/e3; bishops a6/e5; pawns a7/b6/d4/d5/f6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf1 — bishop a6→f1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rh7# — rook f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p4R2/bp3pB1/3pb3/3p2N1/2P1r3/PP4P1/5RK1 b - - 4 26

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