Chess Puzzle #Zjln4 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2349 · Expert · crushing, deflection, endgame, pawn endgame, very long.

Position

White: king b3; pawns a3/b2/d3/f4/g3/h3. Black: king d6; pawns a5/c5/d4/f6/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ka4 — king b3→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: c4 — pawn c5→c4. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d3→c4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Kc5 — king d6→c5. Opponent replies Kb3 (king a4→b3).
  4. Best move: a4+ — pawn a5→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king b3→c2).
  5. Best move: Kxc4 — king c5→c4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, pawn endgame, very long. The key move is c4.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/3k1pp1/p1p4p/3p1P2/PK1P2PP/1P6/8 w - - 2 40

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