Chess Puzzle #hoCMe — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2320 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; rooks h5/h7; knights d7/f6; pawns a2/b2/g3. Black: king g6; rooks a8/d8; bishop g2; knight e6; pawns a6/b7/f3/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook d8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne5+ — knight d7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king g6→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxf7# — rook h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r4/1p1N1p1R/p3nNk1/7R/8/5pP1/PP4b1/2K5 b - - 7 30

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