Chess Puzzle #EHaU0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1488 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks b2/e1; bishop e3; knight d6; pawns a3/e5/f2/h5. Black: king d7; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g4; knight e7; pawns b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight e7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b2→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Bb6# — bishop e3→b6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Bb6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4b1r/1p1knpp1/3Np2p/3pP2P/6b1/P3B3/1R3P2/4R1K1 b - - 0 24

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