Chess Puzzle #11oW2 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2203 · Expert · advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, promotion, rook endgame.

Position

White: king e5; rooks c5/e3; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; rooks b4/d8; pawns a5/d4/e4/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e3→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: d3 — pawn d4→d3. Opponent replies Rxb4 (rook e4→b4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: d2 — pawn d3→d2. Opponent replies Rb7+ (rook b4→b7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh6 — king h7→h6. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook c5→c8).
  5. Best move: d1=Q — pawn d2→d1, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  6. Best move: Qxd8 — queen d1→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, promotion, rook endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is d3.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/7k/6p1/p1R1K2p/1r1pp3/1P2R2P/P4PP1/8 w - - 0 46

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