Chess Puzzle #EiQc1 — Advanced, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1734 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang.

Position

White: king e3; pawns a3/b2/c3/g4. Black: king c5; pawns a5/b5/d5/g5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd3 — king e3→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Opponent replies Ke2 (king d3→e2).
  3. Best move: Kc4 — king c5→c4. Opponent replies Ke3 (king e2→e3).
  4. Best move: Kb3 — king c4→b3. Opponent replies Kd3 (king e3→d3).
  5. Best move: Kxb2 — king b3→b2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang. The key move is a4.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/8/ppkp2p1/6P1/P1P1K3/1P6/8 w - - 0 48

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