Chess Puzzle #Ibj52 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2539 · Master · clearance, crushing, defensive move, endgame, long.

Position

White: king e6; knight f6; pawns b2/c3/f3/g2/h3. Black: king c6; bishop c5; pawns b4/c4/f4/g5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh5 — knight f6→h5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Opponent replies Ke5 (king e6→e5).
  3. Best move: Ba3 — bishop c5→a3. Opponent replies Kd4 (king e5→d4).
  4. Best move: Kb5 — king c6→b5.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move is b3.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/2k1KN2/2b3pp/1pp2p2/2P2P1P/1P4P1/8 w - - 0 40

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