Chess Puzzle #8hvAB — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1774 · Advanced · discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks c7/g1; bishop f1; knight b6; pawns a3/b2/d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen g6; rooks d8/g5; bishop f3; knight f4; pawns a6/b7/e4/f5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg2 — rook g5→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight b6→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxb7# — queen b3→b7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/1pR5/pN1P2qp/5pr1/4pn2/PQ3b2/1P3PPP/5BRK b - - 2 29

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