Chess Puzzle #2WCMH — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1453 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king f2; rook e3; pawns d5/e4/f3/f4/g3. Black: king f6; rook a2; pawns d6/e7/f7/g5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re2 — rook e3→e2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe2+ — rook a2→e2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe2 (king f2→e2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short. The key move Rxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/4pp2/3p1k2/3P2pp/4PP2/4RPP1/r4K2/8 w - - 2 40

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