Chess Puzzle #6ZZ8x — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2334 · Expert · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang.

Position

White: king b4; pawns b5/c5/e5/f4/g5/h5. Black: king d7; pawns b7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc7 — king d7→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ka5 — king b4→a5. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: fxg5 — pawn f4→g5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/1p1k1pp1/2p1p2p/1PP1P1PP/1K3P2/8/8/8 b - - 2 53

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