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

Rating 2531 · Master · crushing, endgame, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king e3; knight d2; pawns a4/b3/c4/f3/h4. Black: king d6; bishop f5; pawns b4/b6/c6/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc5 — king d6→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight d2→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe4 (bishop f5→e4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Kxe4 — king e3→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Kd6 (king c5→d6).
  4. Best move: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c6→c5).
  5. Best move: Kf5 — king e4→f5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Ne4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/6p1/1ppk3p/4pb2/PpP4P/1P2KP2/3N4/8 b - - 3 48

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