Chess Puzzle #3mLZO — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1300 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, rook endgame, skewer.

Position

White: king a6; rook c4; pawns a7/g4. Black: king f6; rook e8; pawns e4/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook c4→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures rook. Opponent replies a8=Q (pawn a7→a8, promotes to queen).
  3. Best move: Ra4+ — rook e4→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king a6→b7).
  4. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a4→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, rook endgame, skewer. The key move Rxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/P6p/K4k2/8/2R1p1P1/8/8/8 w - - 0 57

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