Chess Puzzle #BCwJJ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2080 · Expert · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang.

Position

White: king f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/g3/h4. Black: king f5; pawns a6/b5/c6/d5/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b3→b4).
  3. Best move: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Opponent replies Kg2 (king f3→g2).
  4. Best move: Ke4 — king f5→e4. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g2→f2).
  5. Best move: Kd3 — king e4→d3.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/6p1/p1p5/1p1p1k1p/3P3P/P3PKP1/1P6/8 w - - 0 38

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