Chess Puzzle #WNm79 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2125 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, sacrifice.

Position

White: king d3; pawns a2/c4/e4/f3/g4/h3. Black: king c5; pawns a6/c6/c7/e5/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb4 — king c5→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: f4 — pawn f3→f4. Opponent replies gxf4 (pawn g5→f4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Opponent replies Kc5 (king b4→c5).
  4. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: h5 — pawn h4→h5.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move is f4.

Position data

FEN: 8/2p5/p1p4p/2k1p1p1/2P1P1P1/3K1P1P/P7/8 b - - 0 40

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