Chess Puzzle #pbff3 — Expert, Black to move, endgame

Rating 2197 · Expert · crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, very long, zugzwang.

Position

White: king d3; pawns a4/b3/e4/g3/h3. Black: king e5; pawns a5/b5/c6/g5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke3 — king d3→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Opponent replies gxh4 (pawn g3→h4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g5→h4, captures pawn. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b3→b4).
  4. Best move: bxa4 — pawn b5→a4, captures pawn. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b4→b5).
  5. Best move: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pawn endgame, very long, zugzwang. The key move is h4.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/2p5/pp2k1pp/P3P3/1P1K2PP/8/8 w - - 1 40

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