Chess Puzzle #1pd2N — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang.

Position

White: king f4; pawns a3/b3/c3/d4. Black: king f6; pawns a5/b6/c7/f5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c6 — pawn c7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: c4 — pawn c3→c4. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f6→e6).
  3. Best move: Kg5 — king f4→g5. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b6→b5).
  4. Best move: a4 — pawn a3→a4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang. The key move is c4.

Position data

FEN: 8/2p5/1p3k2/p4p2/3P1K2/PPP5/8/8 b - - 0 48

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