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Winning blow: rook to a8 (a7·3)

Shuffle Rating 1200Theme: Chess960 twist: use the unusual starting setup of the pieces.
White to move — find the best continuation

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The tactical motive

Chess960 twist: use the unusual starting setup of the pieces.

White to move — find the best continuation

Solution & explanation

Main line

28. Ra8+ Kc7 29. Rxf8 Nxc6 30. Rf7+ Kc8 31. bxc6

Why it works

  • Great move! rook to a8 keeps the pressure (+2.8).
  • Well found: rook to f8 (+2.8).
  • Strong! rook to f7 is the sharp choice (+3.0).
  • Great move! pawn to c6 keeps the pressure (+3.1).
  • You win a piece — the rook.
  • If instead Kc7, then Rxf8 and you win the rook.

About this position

These pieces come from starting position #897.

SP-897 · BastionScout — Off-centre king plus a rim knight (a/h): 168 positions carry this shape.

Explore position #897

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