Chess Puzzle #Br0tl — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h1; bishop e4; pawns a3/b2/c2/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e4→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/pp3ppp/8/8/4B3/P3P3/1PP3PP/2KR3R b - - 0 19

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