Chess Puzzle #Ms6Dq — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2331 · Expert · crushing, endgame, master, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang.

Position

White: king d3; pawns a5/b4/c3/d4/f3/h3. Black: king b3; pawns a6/b5/c6/f4/f5/h4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ka3 — king b3→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kc2 — king d3→c2. Opponent replies Ka2 (king a3→a2).
  3. Best move: c4 — pawn c3→c4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang. The key move is Kc2.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p1p5/Pp3p2/1P1P1p1p/1kPK1P1P/8/8 b - - 3 40

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

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