Chess Puzzle #JZL9H — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks g1/g2; bishop d5; knight d6; pawns c3/e4/f5/h4. Black: king h8; rooks b8/f8; bishop a6; knight g5; pawns a5/d7/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight g5→f3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg8+ — rook g2→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook f8→g8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxf7# — knight d6→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Nxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/3p1p1p/b2N1p2/p2B1Pn1/4P2P/2P5/6R1/6RK b - - 2 31

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