Chess Puzzle #4rE3a — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1208 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king d1; rook d2; bishop b3; knight e2; pawns f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rook e8; bishop b5; knight d3; pawns d4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight e2→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king d1→c2).
  3. Best move: Rc1# — rook e1→c1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5ppp/8/1b6/3p1P2/1B1n4/3RN1PP/3K4 w - - 0 36

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