Chess Puzzle #4olSd — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1272 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king e5; rook h7; pawns d5/e6. Black: king e8; rooks a4/b5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb2 — rook b5→b2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  3. Best move: d6# — pawn d5→d6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, rook endgame, short. The combination ends with d6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/7R/4P3/1r1PK3/r7/8/8/8 b - - 4 59

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