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

Rating 1450 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king e4; rook h6; bishop f7; pawns a2/b2/f2. Black: king c5; rook h2; knight d4; pawns e5/g3/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg3 — pawn f2→g3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re2+ — rook h2→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd3 (king e4→d3).
  3. Best move: e4+ — pawn e5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc3 (king d3→c3).
  4. Best move: Rc2# — rook e2→c2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/5B2/7R/2k1p2p/3nK3/6p1/PP3P1r/8 w - - 0 36

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