Chess Puzzle #0iKbS — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1578 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king f3; pawns a4/b3/b4/f4. Black: king f5; pawns a5/d5/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb4 — pawn a5→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h4→h3).
  3. Best move: a6 — pawn a5→a6. Opponent replies h2 (pawn h3→h2).
  4. Best move: Kg2 — king f3→g2. Opponent replies h1=Q+ (pawn h2→h1, promotes to queen, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kxh1 — king g2→h1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is a5.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/8/p2p1k2/PP3P1p/1P3K2/8/8 b - - 0 53

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