Chess Puzzle #9me2O — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1548 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h5; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight g6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf6 — rook f8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Ne5# — knight g6→e5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, opening, short. The combination ends with Ne5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/pbppb1p1/1p2p1N1/7Q/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 3 12

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