Chess Puzzle #3ba3J — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1376 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king c3; rook a5; pawns a6/e5/f5. Black: king d5; rook a7; pawns c4/d3/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke4 — king d5→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: e6 — pawn e5→e6. Opponent replies d2 (pawn d3→d2).
  3. Best move: Kxd2 — king c3→d2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short. The key move is e6.

Position data

FEN: 8/r4p2/P7/R2kPP2/2p5/2Kp4/8/8 b - - 5 53

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