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

Rating 1470 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/g7; bishop h6; pawns b2/f2/h5. Black: king h8; rooks a8/e2; bishop a2; pawns a5/c3/f5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb7 — rook g7→b7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: cxb2+ — pawn c3→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb2 (rook b7→b2, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook a8→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rc2 (rook b2→c2).
  4. Best move: Rexc2# — rook e2→c2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rexc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/6R1/7B/p4p1P/8/2p5/bP2rP2/2KR4 w - - 1 30

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