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

Position

White: king d2; rooks b4/e1; bishop c7; pawns a3/g2/h2. Black: king e4; rooks d4/e8; pawns b5/d3/e2/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb5 — rook b4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rc4 — rook d4→c4. Opponent replies Rb4 (rook b5→b4).
3. Best move: Rxb4 — rook c4→b4, captures rook. Opponent replies axb4 (pawn a3→b4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Ra8 — rook e8→a8. Opponent replies Ba5 (bishop c7→a5).
5. Best move: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Opponent replies Rb1 (rook e1→b1).
6. Best move: Rc2+ — rook c8→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d2→e1).
7. Best move: d2+ — pawn d3→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe2 (king e1→e2, captures pawn).
8. Best move: Rc1 — rook c2→c1. Opponent replies Kxd2 (king e2→d2, captures pawn).
9. Best move: Rxb1 — rook c1→b1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, exposed king, quiet move, very long. The key move is Rc4.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/2B2ppp/8/1p6/1R1rk3/P2p4/3Kp1PP/4R3 w - - 4 39

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