Chess Puzzle #COixC — Expert, Black to move, endgame

Position

White: king b5; knight d3; pawns a4/b3. Black: king h4; bishop g1; pawns a5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxa5 — king b5→a5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Kg3 — king h4→g3. Opponent replies Ka6 (king a5→a6).
3. Best move: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b3→b4).
4. Best move: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b4→b5).
5. Best move: h3 — pawn h4→h3. Opponent replies b6 (pawn b5→b6).
6. Best move: Bxb6 — bishop g1→b6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxb6 (king a6→b6, captures bishop).
7. Best move: h2 — pawn h3→h2. Opponent replies a5 (pawn a4→a5).
8. Best move: h1=Q — pawn h2→h1, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Kg3.

Position data

FEN: 8/7p/8/pK6/P6k/1P1N4/8/6b1 w - - 0 55

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