Chess Puzzle #1UWcq — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1372 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long.

Position

White: king c2; rook g5; knight c4; pawns g2/h4. Black: king f4; rook a8; bishop e1; pawns c5/d2. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook g5→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra2+ — rook a8→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Nb2 (knight c4→b2).
  3. Best move: Rxb2+ — rook a2→b2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb2 (king c2→b2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: d1=Q — pawn d2→d1, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long, promotion. The key move Rxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/8/8/2p3R1/2N2k1P/8/2Kp2P1/4b3 w - - 14 59

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.