Chess Puzzle #9AL4Y — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1528 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, very long.

Position

White: king d3; pawns a4/b4/c4/f2/g3/h4. Black: king e5; pawns a6/c6/d6/f5/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b4→b5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures pawn. Opponent replies cxb5 (pawn c4→b5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures pawn. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a4→b5, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Kd5 — king e5→d5. Opponent replies Ke3 (king d3→e3).
  5. Best move: Kc5 — king d5→c5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, very long. The key move cxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p1pp2p1/4kp1p/PPP4P/3K2P1/5P2/8 w - - 0 34

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