Chess Puzzle #V9d4S — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; knight d3; pawns a4/b4/g3/h2. Black: king f5; bishop c4; pawns a6/d4/d5/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king f5→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne5+ — knight d3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g4→f5).
3. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures knight).
4. Best move: b5 — pawn b4→b5. Opponent replies c3+ (pawn c4→c3, gives check).
5. Best move: Kc1 — king d2→c1. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures pawn).
6. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies d3 (pawn d4→d3).
7. Best move: a6 — pawn a5→a6.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Ne5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p7/3p1kpp/PPbp4/3N2P1/3K3P/8 b - - 1 42

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