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

Rating 1868 · Advanced · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, pin, rook endgame.

Position

White: king h1; rooks d1/f7; pawns a2/c3/e4/e5/g3. Black: king c8; rooks b2/h8; pawns a7/b7/c7/g4/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook b2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: e6 — pawn e5→e6. Opponent replies Re8 (rook h8→e8).
  3. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7. Opponent replies Ra6 (rook a2→a6).
  4. Best move: Rf8 — rook f7→f8.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, pin, rook endgame. The key move is e6.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/ppp2R2/8/4P3/4P1p1/2P3Pp/Pr6/3R3K b - - 1 28

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