Chess Puzzle #821fC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1418 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/d4; bishop f4; pawns a6/f2/g4/h5. Black: king c6; rooks a7/b5; knight c4; pawns d5/e4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra5 — rook b5→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc4+ — rook d4→c4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxa5 — rook a1→a5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Rxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/r5p1/P1k4p/1r1p3P/2nRpBP1/8/5P2/R5K1 b - - 2 40

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