Chess Puzzle #Doxck — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2693 · Master · crushing, defensive move, endgame, pawn endgame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king e3; pawns b2/b3/c4/d5/f4/g2. Black: king e5; pawns a6/b5/d6/e6/f7/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf5 — king e5→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: c5 — pawn c4→c5. Opponent replies dxc5 (pawn d6→c5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies Kf6 (king f5→f6).
  4. Best move: b4 — pawn b3→b4. Opponent replies cxb4 (pawn c5→b4, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Kd4 — king e3→d4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, pawn endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is c5.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p1p/p2pp3/1p1Pk2p/2P2P2/1P2K3/1P4P1/8 b - - 0 34

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