Chess Puzzle #28Vh9 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; rook c7; knight f3; pawns b6/d4/e5/f4/g4/h3. Black: king f8; rook a8; knight c3; pawns a3/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb5 — knight c3→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc5 — rook c7→c5. Opponent replies a2 (pawn a3→a2).
3. Best move: b7 — pawn b6→b7. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook a8→b8).
4. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
5. Best move: Rxb8 — rook c8→b8, captures rook. Opponent replies a1=Q (pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen).
6. Best move: Re8+ — rook b8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king e7→e8, captures rook).
7. Best move: b8=Q+ — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, attraction, endgame, promotion, very long. The key move is Rc5.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/2R2ppp/1P2p3/3pP3/3P1PP1/p1n2N1P/6K1/8 b - - 2 36

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