Chess Puzzle #3KAfL — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1358 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, exposed king, long, promotion.

Position

White: king g3; rook f7; pawns a2/g6/h7. Black: king c8; queen h8; pawns a5/b6/c5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd8 — king c8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g7 — pawn g6→g7. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen h8→h7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d8→c7).
  4. Best move: g8=Q — pawn g7→g8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, exposed king, long, promotion, queen rook endgame. The key move is g7.

Position data

FEN: 2k4q/5R1P/1p4P1/p1p5/8/6K1/P7/8 b - - 0 44

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