Chess Puzzle #3GhZN — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king f1; rooks c7/d7; pawns e3/f7/g3. Black: king h7; rooks a8/h2; pawns d5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f8=Q — pawn f7→f8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Rc1 (rook c7→c1).
  3. Best move: Rxc1# — rook a1→c1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, queen rook endgame, short. The combination ends with Rxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/2RR1Ppk/7p/3p4/8/4P1P1/7r/5K2 w - - 9 41

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.