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

Rating 2366 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move.

Position

White: king f4; pawns a2/c4/d5/f2/h4. Black: king f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Opponent replies a6 (pawn a7→a6).
  3. Best move: a4 — pawn a3→a4. Opponent replies a5 (pawn a6→a5).
  4. Best move: f3 — pawn f2→f3.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/ppp2p2/5k2/3P1p1p/2P2K1P/8/P4P2/8 b - - 0 32

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