Chess Puzzle #IP4bQ — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1492 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, promotion, rook endgame.

Position

White: king b6; rook a5; pawn c7. Black: king f5; rook c1; pawns g3/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king f5→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc5 — rook a5→c5. Opponent replies Rxc5 (rook c1→c5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Kxc5 — king b6→c5, captures rook. Opponent replies g2 (pawn g3→g2).
  4. Best move: c8=Q+ — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, promotion, rook endgame. The key move is Rc5.

Position data

FEN: 8/2P5/1K5p/R4k2/8/6p1/8/2r5 b - - 1 46

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.