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

Rating 2325 · Expert · endgame, intermezzo, mate, mate in 4, rook endgame, very long.

Position

White: king e6; rooks d1/e7; pawns f5/g6/h4. Black: king h8; rooks b3/d8; pawns a4/f6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook d8→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kf7 — king e6→f7. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
  4. Best move: fxg6+ — pawn f5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
  5. Best move: Rh8# — rook e8→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, intermezzo, mate, mate in 4, rook endgame, very long. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/4R2p/4KpP1/5P2/p6P/1r6/8/3R4 b - - 9 47

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