Chess Puzzle #E1Zb0 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g3; knight b3; pawns b5/c6/d4/e3/f4/h4. Black: king h6; bishop e6; pawns b6/c7/d5/f5/f6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg6 — king h6→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc5 — knight b3→c5. Opponent replies bxc5 (pawn b6→c5, captures knight).
3. Best move: dxc5 — pawn d4→c5, captures pawn. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
4. Best move: b6 — pawn b5→b6. Opponent replies d3 (pawn d4→d3).
5. Best move: Kf2 — king g3→f2. Opponent replies Bc4 (bishop e6→c4).
6. Best move: Ke1 — king f2→e1.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: 8/2p5/1pP1bp1k/1P1p1p1p/3P1P1P/1N2P1K1/8/8 b - - 4 36

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.