Chess Puzzle #2ArkU — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 636 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, opera mate, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook c3; bishop e3; knight a4; pawns a2/b3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; rooks d4/e8; bishop d5; pawns a5/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd4 — bishop e3→d4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Rh1# — rook e1→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, opera mate, short. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5pp1/2p4p/p2b4/N2r3P/1PR1B1P1/P4P2/6K1 w - - 3 31

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