Chess Puzzle #CkjWE — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1552 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e2; rook a2; pawns a3/c2/d3/e4/g2/g4. Black: king g5; rook c3; pawns a4/b5/c4/e5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg4 — king g5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kd2 — king e2→d2. Opponent replies Rb3 (rook c3→b3).
  3. Best move: cxb3 — pawn c2→b3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Kd2.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/6pp/1p2p1k1/p1p1P1P1/P1rP4/R1P1K1P1/8 b - - 1 37

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