Chess Puzzle #5HzGF — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1139 · Beginner · endgame, hook mate, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g3; rooks c1/d1; knight b6; pawns a5/b4/e4/f2/h3. Black: king b8; rooks a2/d8; knight e6; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook d8→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Ka7 (king b8→a7).
  3. Best move: Ra8# — rook c8→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, hook mate, mate, mate in 2, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Ra8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/1p3p1p/pN2n1p1/P3p3/1P2P3/6KP/r4P2/2RR4 b - - 2 31

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