Chess Puzzle #1L4iu — Beginner, White to move, endgame

Rating 1043 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, master, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king c4; rook d4; pawns a4/f4. Black: king e6; rook e4; pawns a6/f5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe4+ — rook d4→e4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f5→e4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Kd4 — king c4→d4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, rook endgame, short. The key move Rxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p3k3/5p2/P1KRrP2/8/8/8 b - - 4 37

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.