Chess Puzzle #E9WX1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1790 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king d3; rook c3; pawns d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king b5; rook b4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc4 — rook b4→c4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc4 — rook c3→c4, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc4+ (pawn d5→c4, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kc3 — king d3→c3.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short. The key move Rxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pp1/4p3/1k1pP2p/1r1P4/2RK3P/5PP1/8 b - - 1 33

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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