Chess Puzzle #1680B — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1419 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, long.

Position

White: king d2; rooks c1/d4; pawns c7/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/c8; pawns a2/b5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a1=Q — pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa1 — rook c1→a1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxa1 (rook a8→a1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook d8→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move Rxa1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/2P3pp/8/1p6/3R4/8/p2K1PPP/2R5 b - - 0 29

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