Chess Puzzle #5ODUY — Master, White to move, endgame

Rating 2464 · Master · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move.

Position

White: king e3; pawns a4/b4/c4/c5. Black: king e6; pawns a6/c6/c7/f5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke5 — king e6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies f4+ (pawn f5→f4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf3 — king e3→f3. Opponent replies Ke6 (king e5→e6).
  4. Best move: b5 — pawn b4→b5.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move. The key move is a5.

Position data

FEN: 8/2p5/p1p1k3/2P2p2/PPP5/4K3/8/8 b - - 0 35

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.