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

Rating 1452 · Intermediate · deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a4/e1; bishops c5/d3; knight e5; pawns c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knights c8/d5; pawns a6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight d5→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxf7# — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1n1r1k1/1b3pp1/p3p2p/2BnN1q1/R7/2PB4/2Q2PPP/4R1K1 b - - 3 21

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