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

Rating 1422 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen d4; rooks f1/f2; knights g1/g4; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4/f3/h4. Black: king g7; queen b5; rooks a8/c8; bishop h5; knight d3; pawns a6/b4/c2/d6/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight d3→f2, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen d4→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  3. Best move: Nh6# — knight g4→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1r5/6kp/p2p1pp1/1q1P3b/1p1QP1NP/3n1P2/PPpK1R2/5RN1 b - - 3 31

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