Chess Puzzle #3y8aU — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1199 · Beginner · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame.

Position

White: king c2; pawns a3/c3/d4/e3/e5/g4/h2. Black: king c4; pawns a5/c5/d5/e4/e6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a3→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies exd4 (pawn e3→d4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h2→h3).
  4. Best move: e2 — pawn e3→e2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame. The key move cxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/4p2p/p1ppP1p1/2kPp1P1/P1P1P3/2K4P/8 w - - 0 35

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