Chess Puzzle #3x10S — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1270 · Intermediate · endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king c7; rook b4; pawns e5/f4/g2/h4. Black: king a7; rook d5; pawns c4/d4/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c4→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra4+ — rook b4→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Ra5 (rook d5→a5).
  3. Best move: Rxa5# — rook a4→a5, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 2, rook endgame, short. The combination ends with Rxa5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/k1K2p2/4p1p1/3rP2p/1Rpp1P1P/8/6P1/8 b - - 3 49

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