Chess Puzzle #MSG88 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1709 · Advanced · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen h3; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/f4/g2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c3/e8; bishop g7; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd3 — rook c3→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Nd7# — knight e5→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Nd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1p2npb1/pq2p1p1/3pN3/5P2/2rB3Q/PP4P1/1K1R3R b - - 1 22

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