Chess Puzzle #3sAw3 — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king f1; pawns a4/e3/g5/h4. Black: king b4; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxa4 — king b4→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b6→b5).
3. Best move: h6 — pawn h5→h6. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: gxh6 — pawn g5→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b5→b4).
5. Best move: h7 — pawn h6→h7. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b4→b3).
6. Best move: h8=Q — pawn h7→h8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, promotion, quiet move, very long. The key move is h5.

Position data

FEN: 8/p4pp1/1p6/6P1/Pk5P/4P3/8/5K2 b - - 0 40

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