Chess Puzzle #HjaJ1 — Advanced, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king c5; knight e4; pawns e5/f4/g3/h4. Black: king f3; knight c6; pawns e6/g6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng5+ — knight e4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg3 (king f3→g3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Kxh4 (king g3→h4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Nxe6 — knight g5→e6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, knight endgame, long. The key move is Ng5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/6p1/2n1p1p1/2K1P2p/4NP1P/5kP1/8/8 b - - 8 44

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