Chess Puzzle #F21o5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1555 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king g2; rook c7; knight e8; pawns f2/g3/h5. Black: king h7; rook a3; knight d4; pawns a7/e5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight d4→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e8→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Rc8# — rook c7→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Rc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4N3/p1R3pk/5p1p/4p2P/3n4/r5P1/5PK1/8 b - - 1 39

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