Chess Puzzle #1ANne — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 400 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king b1; rooks d1/d8; pawns a2/b2/g6/h4. Black: king g8; rooks c8/e5; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook c8→d8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e5→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rR2k1/pp4p1/6Pp/4r2n/7P/8/PP6/1K1R4 b - - 1 32

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