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

Rating 1714 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king c4; rook a3; pawns a4/b5/f4/g3/h4. Black: king d6; rook d2; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd3+ — rook a3→d3, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d2→d3, captures rook. Opponent replies fxe5+ (pawn f4→e5, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxe5 — king d6→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxd3 (king c4→d3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Kf5 — king e5→f5. Opponent replies a5 (pawn a4→a5).
  5. Best move: Kg4 — king f5→g4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, very long. The key move Rxd3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp3pp1/3k4/1P2p3/P1K2P1P/R5P1/3r4/8 w - - 0 39

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