Chess Puzzle #bKaRW — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c3; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/f4/g3/h3. Black: king d5; bishop b5; pawns a6/c4/f5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke4 — king d5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxb5 — knight d4→b5, captures bishop. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures knight).
3. Best move: a4 — pawn a3→a4. Opponent replies bxa4 (pawn b5→a4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Kxc4 — king c3→c4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, long. The key move Nxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p1p/p5p1/1b1k1p2/1PpN1P2/P1K3PP/8/8 b - - 0 41

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