Chess Puzzle #3VgVj — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1401 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, promotion, very long.

Position

White: king h5; pawns g5/h4. Black: king c6; pawns a6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king c6→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kh6 — king h5→h6. Opponent replies a5 (pawn a6→a5).
  3. Best move: Kxh7 — king h6→h7, captures pawn. Opponent replies a4 (pawn a5→a4).
  4. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6. Opponent replies a3 (pawn a4→a3).
  5. Best move: g7 — pawn g6→g7. Opponent replies a2 (pawn a3→a2).
  6. Best move: g8=Q — pawn g7→g8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies a1=Q (pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen).
  7. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g8→g7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, promotion, very long. The key move is Kh6.

Position data

FEN: 8/7p/p1k5/6PK/7P/8/8/8 b - - 4 59

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