Chess Puzzle #88CRi — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1603 · Advanced · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks b1/c4; knights c2/h4; pawns e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/d8; bishop a3; knight c6; pawns b2/b7/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd6 — rook d8→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rh4# — rook c4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r3k/1p4pp/1qn1Qp2/4p3/2R4N/b3P3/1pN2PPP/1R4K1 b - - 1 26

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