Chess Puzzle #5BR53 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1883 · Advanced · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, rook endgame, skewer.

Position

White: king f4; rook c4; pawns a5/c3/e5/h5. Black: king e6; rook h2; pawns a6/b6/c5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a5→b6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook h2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f4→e3).
  3. Best move: Rxc4 — rook h4→c4, captures rook. Opponent replies Kd3 (king e3→d3).
  4. Best move: Rf4 — rook c4→f4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, rook endgame, skewer. The key move is Rh4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/6p1/pp2k2p/P1p1P2P/2R2K2/2P5/7r/8 w - - 1 41

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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