Chess Puzzle #22STh — Master, Black to move, endgame

Position

White: king b1; rook c5; pawns g4/h4. Black: king a4; bishop d1; pawns a5/b4/c2/e6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (10 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook c5→c2, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxc2+ — bishop d1→c2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc2 (king b1→c2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: b3+ — pawn b4→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king c2→b2).
4. Best move: Kb4 — king a4→b4. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h4→h5).
5. Best move: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h5→h6).
6. Best move: a3+ — pawn a4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king b2→b1).
7. Best move: Kc3 — king b4→c3. Opponent replies h7 (pawn h6→h7).
8. Best move: a2+ — pawn a3→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
9. Best move: b2+ — pawn b3→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa2 (king a1→a2, captures pawn).
10. Best move: Kc2 — king c3→c2. Opponent replies Ka3 (king a2→a3).
11. Best move: b1=Q — pawn b2→b1, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, endgame, exposed king, promotion, quiet move, very long. The key move Bxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/4p3/p1R5/kp4PP/8/2p5/1K1b4 w - - 0 45

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