Chess Puzzle #qRs62 — Expert, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king c1; rook c5; bishop d6; pawn b5. Black: king e4; rook b2; knight e5; pawns f6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb3 — rook b2→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kc2 — king c1→c2. Opponent replies Rd3 (rook b3→d3).
3. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop d6→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Rc4+ — rook c5→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king e4→e3).
5. Best move: Rc3 — rook c4→c3. Opponent replies Rxc3+ (rook d3→c3, captures rook, gives check).
6. Best move: Kxc3 — king c2→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies h4 (pawn h5→h4).
7. Best move: b6 — pawn b5→b6. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h4→h3).
8. Best move: b7 — pawn b6→b7. Opponent replies h2 (pawn h3→h2).
9. Best move: b8=Q — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, equality, promotion, very long. The key move is Kc2.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/3B1pp1/1PR1n2p/4k3/8/1r6/2K5 b - - 1 42

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