Chess Puzzle #G1g9R — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king d5; pawns c6/f6. Black: king e7; pawns a3/b5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf6 — king e7→f6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7. Opponent replies a2 (pawn a3→a2).
3. Best move: c8=Q — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies a1=Q (pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen).
4. Best move: Qh8+ — queen c8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king f6→f5).
5. Best move: Qxa1 — queen h8→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, exposed king, pawn endgame, promotion, skewer, very long. The key move is c7.

Position data

FEN: 8/4k3/2P2P2/1p1K4/8/p7/8/8 b - - 0 51

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.