Chess Puzzle #CDMil — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2098 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king d2; rook g1; bishops a7/e6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king c8; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight f6; pawns b7/c6/d6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc7 — king c8→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb5+ — knight c3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies cxb5 (pawn c6→b5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rc1# — rook g1→c1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/Bp5p/2ppBnp1/4p3/4P3/2NP1P1P/PP1K1P2/6R1 b - - 1 15

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