Chess Puzzle #CrXCb — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1512 · Intermediate · attraction, deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; rooks a7/f7; knight c3; pawns a2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks b8/e1; knight c4; pawns g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd1 — knight c3→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb1+ — rook b8→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb1 (king c1→b1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd1# — rook e1→d1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 2, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/R4Rpp/8/8/2n2P2/2N5/P1P3PP/2K1r3 w - - 1 28

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