Chess Puzzle #5O5xt — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1017 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang.

Position

White: king b2; pawns a4/c2/d4/e5/f4/g3/h4. Black: king a6; pawns b4/c6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb3 — king b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ka5 — king a6→a5. Opponent replies Kb2 (king b3→b2).
  3. Best move: Kxa4 — king a5→a4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang. The key move is Ka5.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/k1p1p1p1/3pP2p/Pp1P1P1P/6P1/1KP5/8 w - - 0 46

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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