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

Rating 1970 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, master, quiet move, rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g2; rook h1; pawns a4/b5/d3/e2/f3/g4. Black: king g7; rook d8; pawns a5/b6/c5/d4/f4/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook d8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh8 — rook h1→h8, captures rook. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: Kh3 — king g2→h3. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
  5. Best move: Kg4 — king h3→g4. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
  6. Best move: Kxf4 — king g4→f4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, quiet move, rook endgame, very long. The key move Rxh8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/6k1/1p4p1/pPp5/P2p1pP1/3P1P2/4P1K1/7R b - - 1 39

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