Chess Puzzle #o4FKM — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2367 · Expert · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishops d3/f6; knight f7; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f2/g2/g6. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/g7; knights c6/f8; pawns a7/b7/d4/d5/e6/f5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop g7→h8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nh6# — knight f7→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Nh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1rnk1/ppq2Nb1/2n1pBP1/3pPp1Q/3p4/2PB4/PP3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 7 19

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