Chess Puzzle #Ma5Nc — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1562 · Intermediate · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rook h6; bishop d3; knight a4; pawns a3/b4/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c1/f8; knight e5; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h4. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight e5→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh8 (knight g6→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/p4pp1/1p2p2R/3pn2Q/NP1P3p/P2B3P/6PK/2r5 b - - 1 24

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