Chess Puzzle #1JhAu — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 766 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king e3; rook c6; pawns a2/b4/g3/g5/h4. Black: king e5; rook a7; pawns a3/d5/e6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook c6→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: d4+ — pawn d5→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd3 (king e3→d3).
  3. Best move: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, rook endgame, short. The key move is d4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/r4p1p/2R1p3/3pk1P1/1P5P/p3K1P1/P7/8 w - - 0 36

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