Chess Puzzle #bMU5w — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2305 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, short.

Position

White: king e2; knight b4; pawns a5/b6/c2/g4/h3. Black: king c4; bishop g1; pawns a7/d4/e4/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: a6 — pawn a5→a6. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b6→b5).
  3. Best move: Nd3 — knight b4→d3.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, short. The key move is a6.

Position data

FEN: 8/p7/1P5p/P5p1/1Nkpp1P1/7P/2P1K3/6b1 b - - 0 42

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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