Chess Puzzle #6iCFA — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; rook c5; pawns a3/e3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king d8; rook g5; bishop f5; pawns a7/b7/e4/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook c5→f5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf5 — rook g5→f5, captures rook. Opponent replies gxf5 (pawn g4→f5, captures rook).
3. Best move: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Opponent replies Kg3 (king h2→g3).
4. Best move: a5 — pawn a7→a5. Opponent replies Kf4 (king g3→f4).
5. Best move: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Opponent replies axb4 (pawn a3→b4, captures pawn).
6. Best move: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f5→f6).
7. Best move: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b4→b5).
8. Best move: a2 — pawn a3→a2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, quiet move, rook endgame, very long. The key move Rxf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3k4/pp5p/8/2R2br1/4p1P1/P3P2P/5P1K/8 w - - 0 41

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