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Puzzle #100: Mate in 2: sacrifice

Rating ≈ 1450 · 2 moves to find

White to move and mate in 2.

Puzzle position: White to move and mate in 2.♜︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♞︎♟︎♞︎♛︎♝︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♝︎♜︎♚︎a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
Show a hint

Sometimes you have to give material first.

Show the solution
  1. 10. Nf6+ — the knight goes to f6 with check.
  2. 10… gxf6 is forced: it is the best way out of check.
  3. 11. Qxf7# — the queen takes the pawn on f7 — checkmate.

Why it works. Every move in the line is forcing, so the defender never gets time to organise a defence.

Themes: Mate in 2, Sacrifice

Want to recognise this pattern faster? Read the guide.

This position comes from a training game and was checked with a chess engine: every move you need to find is the only one that works.

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