Chess Puzzle #JzG1H — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c5; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/e5/f4/g5/h3. Black: king c7; bishop d7; pawns a6/b5/f5/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop d7→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c7→d7).
4. Best move: Kb6 — king c5→b6.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move, zugzwang. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/2kb1p2/p5p1/1pK1PpPp/1P1N1P2/P6P/8/8 b - - 11 54

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