Chess Puzzle #smTs5 — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2256 · Expert · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knights b6/c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f5/g7. 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: Nxf5+ — knight d4→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e6→f5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bg5# — bishop c1→g5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Bg5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1b1r/pp1bk1p1/1nn1p1Q1/1B1pPp2/3N4/2P5/PP3PPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 0 13

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