Chess Puzzle #c1sfL — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1847 · Advanced · clearance, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishops a6/d6; pawns b5/c5/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7# — queen d3→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: r4rk1/4qpp1/b2b3p/1ppPp3/4N3/3Q4/PPB2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 5 18

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