user30437: In today's chess.com daily puzzle, I have no idea why the first move of the solution makes sense.
[fen "8/8/8/pp6/P7/7K/1k6/R7 w - - 0 1"]

The first step in the suggested solution is Ra3.
I do not see how that beats axb5 (which is the second move anyway).
Can anyone explain why to me?

user4418: If you play out the moves you will see that axb5 leads to a draw because white can never drive the black king away from the pawn with just the queen and using the king leads to stalemate or black also queening. Rxa3 leads to a win because white queens with check and the black pawn can never get to a2 creating stalemate chances.
[fen "8/8/8/pp6/P7/7K/1k6/R7 w - - 0 1"]

1. Ra3 (1. axb5 Kxa1 2. b6 a4 3. b7 a3 4. b8=Q a2 5. Qh8+ {any king move is stalemate} Kb1 6. Qh7+ Ka1 7. Qg7+ Kb1 8. Qg6+ Ka1 9. Qf6+ Kb1 10. Qf5+ Ka1 11. Qe5+ Kb1 12. Qe4+ Ka1 13. Qd4+ Kb1 14. Qd3+ Ka1 15. Qc3+ Kb1 16. Qb3+ Ka1) Kxa3 2. axb5 Kb2 3. b6 a4 4. b7 a3 5. b8=Q+ Ka1 {Kc2 is the same White threatens the pawn and black must defend} 6. Qe5+ Kb1 7. Qe4+ Kb2 (7...Ka1 8. Qc2 a2 9. Qc1#) 8. Qb4+ Ka2 9. Kg2


30437: <p>In today's chess.com daily puzzle, I have no idea why the first move of the solution makes sense.</p>
<pre><code>[fen &quot;8/8/8/pp6/P7/7K/1k6/R7 w - - 0 1&quot;]
</code></pre>
<p>The first step in the suggested solution is <strong>Ra3</strong>.
I do not see how that beats <strong>axb5</strong> (which is the second move anyway).</p>
<p>Can anyone explain why to me?</p>
 4418: <p>If you play out the moves you will see that axb5 leads to a draw because white can never drive the black king away from the pawn with just the queen and using the king leads to stalemate or black also queening. Rxa3 leads to a win because white queens with check and the black pawn can never get to a2 creating stalemate chances.</p>
<pre><code>[fen &quot;8/8/8/pp6/P7/7K/1k6/R7 w - - 0 1&quot;]

1. Ra3 (1. axb5 Kxa1 2. b6 a4 3. b7 a3 4. b8=Q a2 5. Qh8+ {any king move is stalemate} Kb1 6. Qh7+ Ka1 7. Qg7+ Kb1 8. Qg6+ Ka1 9. Qf6+ Kb1 10. Qf5+ Ka1 11. Qe5+ Kb1 12. Qe4+ Ka1 13. Qd4+ Kb1 14. Qd3+ Ka1 15. Qc3+ Kb1 16. Qb3+ Ka1) Kxa3 2. axb5 Kb2 3. b6 a4 4. b7 a3 5. b8=Q+ Ka1 {Kc2 is the same White threatens the pawn and black must defend} 6. Qe5+ Kb1 7. Qe4+ Kb2 (7...Ka1 8. Qc2 a2 9. Qc1#) 8. Qb4+ Ka2 9. Kg2
</code></pre>
