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

Rating 1530 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; knights d2/g5; pawns a3/c3/f2/g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops e7/g4; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f4/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: h7+ — pawn h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxf7# — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/pp2bpp1/5n1P/3p2N1/5pb1/P1PQ4/3N1PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 1 20

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