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

Rating 1477 · Intermediate · endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks b1/b6; bishop b7; pawns a4/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king a5; rooks c7/e7; bishop e5; knight g6; pawns f6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook c7→b7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: R1b5+ — rook b1→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa4 (king a5→a4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Ra6# — rook b6→a6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Ra6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1Br1rppp/1R3pn1/k3b3/P1P5/6P1/5P1P/1R4K1 b - - 0 31

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