Chess Puzzle #1PxQ4 — Advanced, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king f5; rook a7; pawn g6. Black: king f8; rook e4; pawns d4/e5/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook e4→e1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ke6 — king f5→e6. Opponent replies Rb1 (rook e1→b1).
3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook b1→b8).
4. Best move: Rxb8# — rook a8→b8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, rook endgame. The combination ends with Rxb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/R5p1/6P1/4pK2/3pr3/8/8/8 b - - 2 42

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