Chess Puzzle #1xRAz — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 686 · Beginner · clearance, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks b6/f1; bishop e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3. Black: king c7; rooks g5/h8; knight g4; pawns e6/g7/h2. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook b6→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf2+ — knight g4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rg1# — rook g5→g1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rg1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/2k3p1/1R2p3/6r1/4B1n1/3P4/PPP4p/5R1K w - - 3 40

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