Chess Puzzle #87XVp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1474 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, short.

Position

White: king d2; knight c6; pawns b4/c3/g5/h4. Black: king f4; bishop c4; pawns b5/f5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king f4→g4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne5+ — knight c6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king g4→h3).
  3. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, short. The key move is Ne5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/2N3p1/1p3pPp/1Pb2k1P/2P5/3K4/8 b - - 2 61

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