Chess Puzzle #9y91H — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1428 · Intermediate · kingside attack, master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d1; rook a1; bishops b3/c1; knights g4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/h6. Black: king g8; rook a8; bishops c8/f8; knights b6/c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight g4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nf7# — knight g5→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b2bk1/pp5p/1nn1p1pP/2ppP1N1/3P2N1/1BP5/PP6/R1BK4 b - - 6 22

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