Chess Puzzle #fzvvH — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2416 · Master · clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishop d2; knights e4/f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king f7; queen d5; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/h7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb5 — queen d5→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng5+ — knight e4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qe6# — queen e2→e6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qe6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4b1r/pp1n1kpb/2p2n1p/3q4/3PNN1P/5P2/PPPBQ1P1/R3K2R b KQ - 4 16

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