Chess Puzzle #54g6U — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; knight c6; pawns a3/b5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g7; bishop b3; knight c4; pawns f5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa3 — knight c4→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b6 — pawn b5→b6. Opponent replies Bd5 (bishop b3→d5).
3. Best move: b7 — pawn b6→b7. Opponent replies Bxc6 (bishop d5→c6, captures knight).
4. Best move: b8=Q — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/6k1/2N4p/1P3pp1/2n5/Pb3P1P/6P1/6K1 b - - 2 42

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