Chess Puzzle #fdkGC — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b4; rook c1; pawns b5/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e5; rook b6; pawns d5/e4/f5/g5/h4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc6 — rook c1→c6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc6 — rook b6→c6, captures rook. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b5→c6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Kd6 — king e5→d6. Opponent replies Kb5 (king b4→b5).
4. Best move: Kc7 — king d6→c7. Opponent replies Kc5 (king b5→c5).
5. Best move: f4 — pawn f5→f4. Opponent replies Kxd5 (king c5→d5, captures pawn).
6. Best move: g4 — pawn g5→g4. Opponent replies hxg4 (pawn h3→g4, captures pawn).
7. Best move: f3 — pawn f4→f3. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures pawn).
8. Best move: h3 — pawn h4→h3. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g4→g5).
9. Best move: h2 — pawn h3→h2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, rook endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/1r6/1P1pkpp1/1K2p2p/4P2P/5PP1/2R5 w - - 3 44

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