Chess Puzzle #0IE5U — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1409 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, master, rook endgame, skewer.

Position

White: king d4; rook c7; pawns b3/d7/g2/h4. Black: king e7; rook g3; pawns b4/f5/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc4 — king d4→c4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc3+ — rook g3→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb4 (king c4→b4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c3→c7, captures rook. Opponent replies d8=Q+ (pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxd8 — king e7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, master, rook endgame, skewer. The key move is Rc3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/2RPk3/6p1/5p1p/1p1K3P/1P4r1/6P1/8 w - - 1 42

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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