Chess Puzzle #2fZd6 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1759 · Advanced · endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, pillsburys mate.

Position

White: king f4; rook a1; bishops d2/d3; knight h5; pawns b5/c2/e5/g4. Black: king h6; rooks a7/h2; bishop b7; pawns a4/b6/d5/e6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook h2→d2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g5+ — pawn g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh5 (king h6→h5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook a1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Rh2 (rook d2→h2).
  4. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h1→h2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, pillsburys mate, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/rb6/1p2p2k/1P1pP2N/p4KP1/3B4/2PB3r/R7 b - - 7 34

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.