Chess Puzzle #8S4pM — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1525 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move.

Position

White: king f6; pawns a4/c3/e6. Black: king e8; pawns a6/b5/c7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Opponent replies Kf5 (king f6→f5).
  3. Best move: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Opponent replies b6 (pawn b5→b6).
  4. Best move: cxb6 — pawn c7→b6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4k3/2p5/p3PK2/1p6/P7/2P5/8/8 w - - 0 47

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.