Chess Puzzle #XlSHx — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2270 · Expert · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang.

Position

White: king f3; pawns b4/c3/d4/e5/g2/g3. Black: king f5; pawns b5/c6/d5/f7/g5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf2 — king f3→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Kg4 — king f5→g4. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f2→g1).
  3. Best move: Kxg3 — king g4→g3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang. The key move is Kg4.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/2p5/1p1pPkpp/1P1P4/2P2KP1/6P1/8 w - - 0 44

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.