Chess Puzzle #A3mPo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1402 · Intermediate · endgame, epaulette mate, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king c1; rooks e1/e7; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/h2. Black: king f5; rooks a8/h8; knight f4; pawns a7/c4/h4/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight f4→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf7+ — rook e7→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king f5→g5).
  3. Best move: Rg1+ — rook e1→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king g5→h5).
  4. Best move: Rf5# — rook f7→f5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, epaulette mate, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rf5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p3R3/7p/5k2/2p2n1p/5P2/PPP4P/2K1R3 b - - 1 31

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