Chess Puzzle #18K5E — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 866 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; rook g7; knight d4; pawns a5/b2/c4/d5. Black: king f2; rook a8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook g7→e7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook a8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook e7→h7).
  3. Best move: Rxh7# — rook h8→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/pp1bp1R1/3p4/P2P4/2PN4/8/1P3k2/7K w - - 0 44

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.