Chess Puzzle #jw5tR — Master, White to move, endgame

Rating 2695 · Master · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move.

Position

White: king g3; pawns a3/b3/c2/d3/e4. Black: king g5; pawns a5/c6/c7/d6/e5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a4 — pawn a3→a4. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d3→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c6→c5).
  4. Best move: Kf3 — king g3→f3.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/2p5/2pp4/p3p1k1/4P3/PP1P2K1/2P5/8 b - - 2 39

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.