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

Position

White: king e4; pawns a3/c4/f4/g4. Black: king e6; pawns a4/c5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (9 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5. Opponent replies f5+ (pawn f7→f5, gives check).
3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king e6→f6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Kd5 — king e4→d5. Opponent replies Kf5 (king f6→f5).
5. Best move: Kxc5 — king d5→c5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxf4 (king f5→f4, captures pawn).
6. Best move: Kd5 — king c5→d5. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g6→g5).
7. Best move: c5 — pawn c4→c5. Opponent replies g4 (pawn g5→g4).
8. Best move: c6 — pawn c5→c6. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g4→g3).
9. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7. Opponent replies g2 (pawn g3→g2).
10. Best move: c8=Q — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, en passant, endgame, pawn endgame, promotion, quiet move, very long. The key move is g5.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pp1/4k3/2p5/p1P1KPP1/P7/8/8 b - - 2 40

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