Chess Puzzle #MvhSU — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2442 · Master · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang.

Position

White: king f4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g4/h4. Black: king g6; pawns a5/b5/c4/d5/f6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g6→f7).
  3. Best move: Kf5 — king f4→f5. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f7→g7).
  4. Best move: Ke6 — king f5→e6.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang. The key move is a3.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/5pkp/pp1p4/2pP1KPP/2P5/PP6/8 b - - 0 36

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