Chess Puzzle #1NTph — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1217 · Intermediate · double check, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks c6/d4; bishop g2; pawns a6/b2/c2/d3/f5. Black: king c7; queen g3; rook h8; pawns a7/f6/g5/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c7→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rb4+ — rook d4→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
  3. Best move: Rc8# — rook c6→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/p1k5/P1R2p2/5Pp1/3R4/3P2qp/1PP3B1/7K b - - 4 38

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.