Chess Puzzle #je6gO — Master, Black to move, endgame

Position

White: king e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g4/h3. Black: king e5; pawns a5/b5/d5/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Opponent replies Kd3 (king e3→d3).
3. Best move: Kf4 — king e5→f4. Opponent replies Kd4 (king d3→d4).
4. Best move: Kg3 — king f4→g3. Opponent replies Kxd5 (king d4→d5, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Kxh3 — king g3→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kc5 (king d5→c5).
6. Best move: Kxg4 — king h3→g4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxb5 (king c5→b5, captures pawn).
7. Best move: Kf5 — king g4→f5. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c3→c4).
8. Best move: Ke6 — king f5→e6. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c4→c5).
9. Best move: Kd7 — king e6→d7.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, pawn endgame, quiet move, very long, zugzwang. The key move is a4.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/7p/pp1pk1p1/6P1/2P1K2P/PP6/8 w - - 0 38

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