Chess Puzzle #0n9b9 — Beginner, Black to move, endgame

Rating 940 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, long, skewer.

Position

White: king c4; knight c8; pawns d6/e7/f4/g3/h4. Black: king e6; rook e1; pawns a6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc5 — king c4→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook e1→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c5→b6).
  3. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures knight. Opponent replies e8=Q+ (pawn e7→e8, promotes to queen, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rxe8 — rook c8→e8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, skewer. The key move is Rc1+.

Position data

FEN: 2N5/4Pp1p/p2Pk3/8/2K2P1P/6P1/8/4r3 w - - 1 57

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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