Chess Puzzle #1V3xy — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 949 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, master, rook endgame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king f3; rook e8; pawns a3/b4/g3/g5/h4. Black: king d6; rook c3; pawns a6/c6/d4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke4 — king f3→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re3+ — rook c3→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd4 (king e4→d4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e3→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, rook endgame, short, skewer. The key move is Re3+.

Position data

FEN: 4R3/6pp/p1pk4/6P1/1P1p3P/P1r2KP1/8/8 w - - 2 39

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