Chess Puzzle #D0lmu — Master, White to move, endgame

Rating 2573 · Master · crushing, defensive move, endgame, quiet move, rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king e4; rook g6; pawns a3/b5/c4/d3. Black: king d7; rook e7; pawns a5/b6/c7/e5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re6 — rook e7→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe6 — rook g6→e6, captures rook. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king d7→e6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: a4 — pawn a3→a4. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e6→d6).
  4. Best move: Kf5 — king e4→f5. Opponent replies Kc5 (king d6→c5).
  5. Best move: Kxe5 — king f5→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kb4 (king c5→b4).
  6. Best move: Kd4 — king e5→d4. Opponent replies Kxa4 (king b4→a4, captures pawn).
  7. Best move: Kc3 — king d4→c3. Opponent replies Ka3 (king a4→a3).
  8. Best move: d4 — pawn d3→d4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, quiet move, rook endgame, very long, zugzwang. The key move Rxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/2pkr3/1p4R1/pP2p3/2P1K3/P2P4/8/8 b - - 4 52

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