Chess Puzzle #7MnhS — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2071 · Expert · crushing, endgame, quiet move, rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a3/b1; pawns a6/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks b4/f8; pawns b2/e5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra2 — rook a3→a2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  3. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c8→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  4. Best move: Rxb1 — rook c1→b1, captures rook. Opponent replies a7 (pawn a6→a7).
  5. Best move: Rf1+ — rook b1→f1, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, rook endgame, very long. The key move is Rc8.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5p1p/P5p1/4p3/1r2P3/R7/1p3PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 29

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