Chess Puzzle #5ZQpB — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1516 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, rook endgame, skewer.

Position

White: king c4; rook b7; pawn a3. Black: king a4; rook a2. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxa3 — king a4→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kc3 — king c4→c3. Opponent replies Ka4 (king a3→a4).
  3. Best move: Ra7+ — rook b7→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb5 (king a4→b5).
  4. Best move: Rxa2 — rook a7→a2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, rook endgame, skewer. The key move is Kc3.

Position data

FEN: 8/1R6/8/8/k1K5/P7/r7/8 b - - 12 82

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