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

Rating 1565 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks a1/f1; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks f8/h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen g6→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rg1# — rook f1→g1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rg1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rkr/ppp3pp/2n3q1/3Q1N2/8/8/PPP2P1P/R4R1K b - - 0 19

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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