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

Position

White: king f3; rook d4; pawns a2/c4/d6/g2. Black: king d7; rook g6; pawns a6/b7/g3/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (11 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook g6→d6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd6+ — rook d4→d6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd6 (king d7→d6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Kxg3 — king f3→g3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Ke5 (king d6→e5).
4. Best move: Kh4 — king g3→h4. Opponent replies Kf4 (king e5→f4).
5. Best move: c5 — pawn c4→c5. Opponent replies a5 (pawn a6→a5).
6. Best move: a4 — pawn a2→a4. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f4→e3).
7. Best move: Kxh5 — king h4→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kd4 (king e3→d4).
8. Best move: g4 — pawn g2→g4. Opponent replies Kxc5 (king d4→c5, captures pawn).
9. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b7→b5).
10. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b5→b4).
11. Best move: g7 — pawn g6→g7. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b4→b3).
12. Best move: g8=Q — pawn g7→g8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, quiet move, rook endgame, very long, zugzwang. The key move Rxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p1k4/p2P2r1/7p/2PR4/5Kp1/P5P1/8 b - - 1 44

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