Chess Puzzle #aXZBB — Expert, Black to move, endgame

Position

White: king h4; pawns b4/c2/d3. Black: king g6; pawns a6/c6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c4 — pawn c2→c4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Kf5 — king g6→f5. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d3→d4).
3. Best move: Ke4 — king f5→e4. Opponent replies d5 (pawn d4→d5).
4. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b4→b5).
5. Best move: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures pawn. Opponent replies cxb5 (pawn c4→b5, captures pawn).
6. Best move: Ke5 — king e4→e5. Opponent replies b6 (pawn b5→b6).
7. Best move: Kd6 — king e5→d6. Opponent replies b7 (pawn b6→b7).
8. Best move: Kc7 — king d6→c7. Opponent replies b8=Q+ (pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen, gives check).
9. Best move: Kxb8 — king c7→b8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, very long. The key move is Kf5.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p1p3k1/7p/1P5K/3P4/2P5/8 w - - 0 46

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