Chess Puzzle #zrS7P — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2288 · Expert · crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang.

Position

White: king c3; pawns a3/b2/e5/f4/g4/h3. Black: king c5; pawns b5/c4/e6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5. Opponent replies Kc6 (king c5→c6).
  3. Best move: Kb4 — king c3→b4. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c6→b6).
  4. Best move: a4 — pawn a3→a4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pawn endgame, quiet move, zugzwang. The key move is g5.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/4p1p1/1pk1P2p/2p2PP1/P1K4P/1P6/8 b - - 0 31

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