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

Rating 2645 · Master · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang.

Position

White: king d4; pawns a4/b5/f3/g4/h4. Black: king e6; pawns a5/b6/d5/f6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd6 — king e6→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f6→f5).
  3. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5. Opponent replies Ke7 (king d6→e7).
  4. Best move: gxh6 — pawn g5→h6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang. The key move is h5.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/1p2kp1p/pP1p4/P2K2PP/5P2/8/8 b - - 0 37

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.