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

Rating 1434 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king b3; rooks d1/d7; pawns a4/c3/f3. Black: king c7; rooks e5/g2; bishop f4; pawns b4/b6/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc6 — king c7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: R1d6+ — rook d1→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc5 (king c6→c5).
  3. Best move: cxb4# — pawn c3→b4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with cxb4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/2kR1p2/1p2p3/4r3/Pp3b2/1KP2P2/6r1/3R4 b - - 1 39

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