Chess Puzzle #8zuXi — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1479 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook d1; bishop e3; knight c6; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g2. Black: king c8; queen h4; knight f6; pawns a6/c7/f7/g4/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g3 — pawn g4→g3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king c8→b7).
  3. Best move: Na5# — knight c6→a5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Na5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/2p2p1p/p1N2n2/8/4P1pq/4BP2/PPP3P1/3R2K1 b - - 0 21

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