Chess Puzzle #o9zJA — Master, White to move, endgame

Rating 2426 · Master · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang.

Position

White: king d3; pawns a2/c2/f3/g4. Black: king d5; pawns b5/c5/f6/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f6→f5).
  3. Best move: gxf5 — pawn g4→f5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, short, zugzwang. The key move is c3.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/5p2/1ppk2p1/6P1/3K1P2/P1P5/8 b - - 1 35

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