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

Rating 1425 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, rook endgame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king e3; rook c7; pawns c5/g4/h3. Black: king d5; rook a6; pawns c6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh7 — rook c7→h7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra3+ — rook a6→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king e3→f2).
  3. Best move: Rxh3 — rook a3→h3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, rook endgame, short, skewer. The key move is Ra3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/2R5/r1p4p/2Pk2p1/6P1/4K2P/8/8 w - - 0 52

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