Chess Puzzle #MiORm — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1405 · Intermediate · endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3.

Position

White: king f5; rook e7; pawn h2. Black: king h8; bishop d4; knight b3; pawns a5/b5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kg6 — king f5→g6. Opponent replies Bc5 (bishop d4→c5).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop c5→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/4R3/7p/pp3K2/3b4/1n6/7P/8 b - - 0 37

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