Chess Puzzle #mgegp — Expert, Black to move, endgame

Rating 2373 · Expert · crushing, endgame, quiet move, rook endgame, very long, zugzwang.

Position

White: king a4; rook g4; pawns c2/h4. Black: king d6; rook e5; pawns f5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf4 — rook g4→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re4+ — rook e5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe4 (rook f4→e4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f5→e4, captures rook. Opponent replies Kb4 (king a4→b4).
  4. Best move: Ke5 — king d6→e5. Opponent replies Kc3 (king b4→c3).
  5. Best move: Kf4 — king e5→f4. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c3→d2).
  6. Best move: Kf3 — king f4→f3. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d2→e1).
  7. Best move: Ke3 — king f3→e3. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h4→h5).
  8. Best move: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c2→c3).
  9. Best move: Kd3 — king e3→d3.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, rook endgame, very long, zugzwang. The key move is Re4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/7p/3k4/4rp2/K5RP/8/2P5/8 w - - 0 39

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