Chess Puzzle #3CF2j — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1332 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks e1/g4; knight f5; pawns c4/d5/e4/f2/g2. Black: king f8; queen h8; rooks a8/e8; knight d7; pawns c5/c7/d6/e5/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re3 — rook e1→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e3→e1).
  3. Best move: Rxe1# — rook a1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3rk1q/2pn1p2/3p4/2pPpN2/2P1P1R1/6Q1/5PP1/4R1K1 w - - 5 38

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