Chess Puzzle #2C3YX — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; bishop b7; knight f7; pawns a5/b5/c6/d3/e4/g3/h3. Black: king d5; rook b8; bishop g7; pawns a7/c7/d4/d6/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke6 — king d5→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b6 — pawn b5→b6. Opponent replies axb6 (pawn a7→b6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: axb6 — pawn a5→b6, captures pawn. Opponent replies cxb6 (pawn c7→b6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7. Opponent replies Rxb7 (rook b8→b7, captures bishop).
5. Best move: c8=Q+ — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, very long. The key move is b6.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/pBp2Nb1/2Pp2pp/PP1k4/3pP3/3P2PP/6K1/8 b - e3 0 32

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