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

Rating 1532 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a1/f1; bishop g2; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/c3/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen d6; rook b8; bishops b7/f6; knight g3; pawns a6/b5/c5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf1 — knight g3→f1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen f7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook b8→g8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nf7# — knight h6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/1b3Qpp/p2q1b1N/1pp5/6P1/2P3nP/PP4B1/R4RK1 b - - 11 30

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