Chess Puzzle #ca1Em — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; knight c1; pawns a4/b3/d4/f3/h3. Black: king b4; bishop d6; pawns a5/c6/f4/f5/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kb2 — king c2→b2. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c5→c4).
3. Best move: Na2# — knight c1→a2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Na2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/2pb4/p4ppp/Pk1P1p2/1P3P1P/2K5/2N5 b - - 2 42

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