Chess Puzzle #1ZegR — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1248 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, pawn endgame, short.

Position

White: king e3; pawns a3/b3/d4/f4/g4/h3. Black: king d5; pawns a5/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a3→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: bxa4 — pawn b5→a4, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxa4 (pawn b3→a4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Kc4 — king d5→c4.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, pawn endgame, short. The key move bxa4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/5ppp/4p3/pp1k4/3P1PP1/PP2K2P/8/8 w - - 0 32

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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