Chess Puzzle #4foKO — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2681 · Master · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, very long, zugzwang.

Position

White: king e2; pawns a4/b3/e4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king c5; pawns a5/b4/e5/f4/g5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd2 — king e2→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Kd4 — king c5→d4. Opponent replies Kc2 (king d2→c2).
  3. Best move: g4 — pawn g5→g4. Opponent replies fxg4 (pawn f3→g4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg4 (pawn h3→g4, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Kxe4 — king d4→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c2→d2).
  6. Best move: Kf3 — king e4→f3. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g4→g5).
  7. Best move: Kxf2 — king f3→f2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, very long, zugzwang. The key move is Kd4.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/8/p1k1p1pp/Pp2Pp2/1P3P1P/4KP2/8 w - - 0 38

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