Chess Puzzle #C1QkR — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1550 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang.

Position

White: king c3; pawns a3/b4/e2/f4/h2/h3. Black: king d5; pawns a5/b5/e3/e4/f5/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d5→c6).
  3. Best move: Kd4 — king c3→d4. Opponent replies Kd6 (king c6→d6).
  4. Best move: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d6→c6).
  5. Best move: Ke5 — king d4→e5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang. The key move is h4.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/8/pp1k1p1p/1P2pP2/P1K1p2P/4P2P/8 b - - 0 34

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