Chess Puzzle #9KwG9 — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1580 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, master, pawn endgame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king c3; pawns a3/c4. Black: king c5; pawns a6/b6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a3→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Opponent replies Kd3 (king c3→d3).
  3. Best move: Kb4 — king c5→b4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, pawn endgame, quiet move, short, zugzwang. The key move is a5.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/pp6/2k5/2P5/P1K5/8/8 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.