Chess Puzzle #AfBtm — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1516 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short.

Position

White: king h3; rook e7; knight d7; pawn h5. Black: king h7; rooks a2/g2; pawns g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg5 — rook g2→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Re8# — rook e7→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/3NR1pk/7p/7P/8/7K/r5r1/8 b - - 1 45

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