Chess Puzzle #2YpPW — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1354 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang.

Position

White: king a6; pawns b4/f4/h2. Black: king d5; pawns b5/f5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc4 — king d5→c4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ka5 — king a6→a5. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h6→h5).
  3. Best move: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Opponent replies Kd4 (king c4→d4).
  4. Best move: Kxb5 — king a5→b5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang. The key move is Ka5.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/K6p/1p1k1p2/1P3P2/8/7P/8 b - - 0 41

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.