Chess Puzzle #1rW8P — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1553 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook c7; pawns a4/c2/c4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; rook d8; pawns a5/b4/d4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc5 — rook c7→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Opponent replies cxb3 (pawn c2→b3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: d3 — pawn d4→d3.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short. The key move is b3.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/2R3p1/7p/p7/PpPp4/7P/2P3P1/6K1 w - - 1 39

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