Chess Puzzle #2IMoX — Beginner, White to move, endgame

Rating 540 · Beginner · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, short.

Position

White: king d4; rook a6; bishop f5; pawn h6. Black: king h8; rooks b2/e2; pawns a2/d3/e4. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb1 — rook b2→b1. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook b1→b8).
  3. Best move: Rxb8# — rook a8→b8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pillsburys mate, short. The combination ends with Rxb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/8/R6P/5B2/3Kp3/3p4/pr2r3/8 b - - 3 61

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.