Chess Puzzle #L96MX — Master, White to move, endgame

Rating 2680 · Master · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king e3; pawns a4/b4/h2. Black: king e5; pawns a7/e4/g4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd5 — king e5→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: b5 — pawn b4→b5. Opponent replies Ke5 (king d5→e5).
  3. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies Kd5 (king e5→d5).
  4. Best move: a6 — pawn a5→a6. Opponent replies Kc5 (king d5→c5).
  5. Best move: Kxe4 — king e3→e4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is b5.

Position data

FEN: 8/p7/8/4k3/PP2p1p1/4K3/7P/8 b - - 0 35

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