Chess Puzzle #2Cp4s — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1255 · Intermediate · deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king c3; rooks f7/g7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g5. Black: king c8; rooks e2/e8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook f7→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: R8e3+ — rook e8→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc4 (king c3→c4).
  3. Best move: Rxc2# — rook e2→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/pp3RR1/2pb4/6P1/3P4/2K5/PPP1r3/8 w - - 7 36

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.