Chess Puzzle #3Buvc — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1385 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king e4; knight d4; pawns a2/d5/g4/h3. Black: king d6; bishop e1; pawns a5/b6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc3 — bishop e1→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb5+ — knight d4→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kc5 (king d6→c5).
  3. Best move: Nxc3 — knight b5→c3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nb5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/6p1/1p1k3p/p2P4/3NK1P1/7P/P7/4b3 b - - 2 41

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