Chess Puzzle #40S1K — Beginner, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1043 · Beginner · advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, promotion, quiet move.

Position

White: king a5; pawns a2/h4. Black: king d4; pawns e6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb5 — king a5→b5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Opponent replies a4 (pawn a2→a4).
  3. Best move: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Opponent replies a5 (pawn a4→a5).
  4. Best move: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Opponent replies a6 (pawn a5→a6).
  5. Best move: e2 — pawn e3→e2. Opponent replies a7 (pawn a6→a7).
  6. Best move: e1=Q — pawn e2→e1, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, promotion, quiet move, very long. The key move is e5.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/4p3/K6p/3k3P/8/P7/8 w - - 1 42

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