Chess Puzzle #1QWRA — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1866 · Advanced · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pawn endgame, zugzwang.

Position

White: king a2; pawns b4/c3/d4/e3/f4/g3/h4. Black: king a4; pawns c4/d6/e4/e6/f5/g4/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kb2 — king a2→b2. Opponent replies Kb5 (king a4→b5).
  3. Best move: Ka3 — king b2→a3. Opponent replies Kc6 (king b5→c6).
  4. Best move: Ka4 — king a3→a4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pawn endgame, zugzwang. The key move is Kb2.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/3pp3/5p1p/kPpPpPpP/2P1P1P1/K7/8 b - - 5 41

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