Chess Puzzle #9ZrHr — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1467 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, knight endgame, short.

Position

White: king c4; knight e7; pawns d5/e4/g4/g5/h5. Black: king a5; knight c5; pawns d6/e5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nc8 (knight e7→c8).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c5→e4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, knight endgame, short. The key move hxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/4N2p/3p2p1/k1nPp1PP/2K1P1P1/8/8/8 w - - 3 60

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