Chess Puzzle #4mfX2 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1046 · Beginner · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, rook endgame.

Position

White: king f3; rooks b5/e3; pawns a4/b3/c4/f4/g3/h4. Black: king f6; rooks b1/d2; pawns a7/d7/e6/g6/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb7 — rook b5→b7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf1+ — rook b1→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke4 (king f3→e4).
  3. Best move: d5+ — pawn d7→d5, gives check. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c4→d5, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: exd5# — pawn e6→d5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, rook endgame. The combination ends with exd5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/p2p4/4pkp1/1R5p/P1P2P1P/1P2RKP1/3r4/1r6 w - - 5 40

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