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

Rating 1578 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; rooks a4/b6; bishop a5; knight f3; pawns a2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f5; rooks a8/d1; bishop f6; knight c6; pawns a6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg4+ (knight e5→g4, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: hxg4# — pawn h3→g4, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with hxg4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/4pp1p/pRn2bp1/B4k2/R7/5N1P/P4PPK/3r4 b - - 4 26

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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