Chess Puzzle #qhtfr — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1978 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g2; rook e2; pawns a2/d3/f4/g3/h5. Black: king h6; rook h8; pawns a6/b5/d5/f5/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxh5 — king h6→h5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kf3 — king g2→f3. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h5→h6).
  3. Best move: Rh2+ — rook e2→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
  4. Best move: Rxh8 — rook h2→h8, captures rook. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g7→h8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Ke3 — king f3→e3. Opponent replies d4+ (pawn d5→d4, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kxd4 — king e3→d4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, very long. The key move is Kf3.

Position data

FEN: 7r/8/p5pk/1p1p1p1P/5P2/3P2P1/P3R1K1/8 b - - 0 34

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