Chess Puzzle #9x4jP — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1589 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, zugzwang.

Position

White: king e3; pawns a3/c4/e4/f4/g4/h3. Black: king d6; pawns a4/c5/e6/f6/g5/h4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: exf5 — pawn e6→f5, captures pawn. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e4→f5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Ke5 — king d6→e5. Opponent replies Kd3 (king e3→d3).
  4. Best move: Kf4 — king e5→f4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, zugzwang. The key move exf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/3kpp2/2p3p1/p1P1PPPp/P3K2P/8/8 w - - 0 32

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