Chess Puzzle #9dQni — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1589 · Intermediate · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move.

Position

White: king b4; pawns a4/e4/g4/h3. Black: king f3; pawns e5/f6/g5/h4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxe4 — king f3→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies Kd5 (king e4→d5).
  3. Best move: Kb5 — king b4→b5. Opponent replies Kd6 (king d5→d6).
  4. Best move: Kb6 — king b5→b6.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/8/5p2/4p1p1/PK2P1Pp/5k1P/8/8 b - - 0 56

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