Chess Puzzle #4ioXT — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1304 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king e5; rooks c3/c4; pawns a4/b5/f5/g4/h3. Black: king g7; rooks d2/f2; pawns a5/b6/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc6 — rook c4→c6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rfe2+ — rook f2→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Re3 (rook c3→e3).
  3. Best move: Rxe3# — rook e2→e3, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, rook endgame, short. The combination ends with Rxe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pk1/1p5p/pP2KPp1/P1R3P1/2R4P/3r1r2/8 w - - 7 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.