Chess Puzzle #KQ4w4 — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Rating 1430 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang.

Position

White: king e3; pawns a2/b3/g5/h4. Black: king f5; pawns a6/b4/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf3 — king e3→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f3→e3).
  3. Best move: Kg4 — king f5→g4. Opponent replies Ke4 (king e3→e4).
  4. Best move: Kxh4 — king g4→h4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kf4 (king e4→f4).
  5. Best move: Kh3 — king h4→h3.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang. The key move is a5.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p5p1/5kPp/1p5P/1P2K3/P7/8 w - - 0 41

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