Chess Puzzle #7GVax — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1535 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang.

Position

White: king d4; pawns a2/c4. Black: king d6; pawns a6/b4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc6 — king d6→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: c5 — pawn c4→c5. Opponent replies Kb5 (king c6→b5).
  3. Best move: Kd5 — king d4→d5. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b4→b3).
  4. Best move: axb3 — pawn a2→b3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang. The key move is c5.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p2k4/8/1pPK4/8/P7/8 b - - 1 48

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