Chess Puzzle #ppH9Y — Master, White to move, endgame

Rating 2540 · Master · crushing, deflection, endgame, rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king e2; rooks c2/c8; pawns g3/h2. Black: king a6; rooks b5/f6; pawns b6/e6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ka5 — king a6→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra2+ — rook c2→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb4 (king a5→b4).
  3. Best move: Rb2+ — rook a2→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka4 (king b4→a4).
  4. Best move: Rc4+ — rook c8→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Ka3 (king a4→a3).
  5. Best move: Rxb5 — rook b2→b5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, rook endgame, very long. The key move is Ra2+.

Position data

FEN: 2R5/8/kp2pr1p/1r4p1/8/6P1/2R1K2P/8 b - - 1 38

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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