Chess Puzzle #6r8gU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1592 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c4; rooks d1/h1; bishops b6/f1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f3/h3. Black: king c8; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knights b4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxa7+ — knight b5→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8# — rook d1→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/ppp2ppp/1B3n2/1N1p4/1nQ5/5P1P/PPP2P2/2KR1B1R b - - 0 14

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