Chess Puzzle #1AVF8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 988 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, rook endgame.

Position

White: king f3; rook a6; pawns a3/b4/e3/g2/h3. Black: king h5; rooks c1/c3; pawns f5/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook c1→e1. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies fxg4+ (pawn f5→g4, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: hxg4+ — pawn h3→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h5→h4).
  4. Best move: Rh6# — rook a6→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, rook endgame. The combination ends with Rh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/7p/R7/5ppk/1P6/P1r1PK1P/6P1/2r5 b - - 0 39

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