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

Rating 2548 · Master · crushing, defensive move, endgame, exposed king, fork, long.

Position

White: king e5; rook h7; pawns c3/e4/f3. Black: king e8; bishop d8; knight g1; pawns g5/h4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf3+ — knight g1→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ke6 — king e5→e6. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Rf7+ — rook h7→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  4. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f7→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, exposed king, fork, long. The key move is Ke6.

Position data

FEN: 3bk3/7R/8/4K1p1/4P2p/2P2P2/8/6n1 b - - 2 50

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