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

Position

White: king d2; knight d3; pawns e4/f5/g5/h5. Black: king c4; knight d4; pawns a5/b3/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight d4→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h6 — pawn h5→h6. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nd8 (knight c6→d8).
4. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight d3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd4 (king c4→d4).
5. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc6 (knight d8→c6, captures knight).
6. Best move: f7 — pawn f6→f7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, capturing the defender, deflection, endgame, knight endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/6pp/5p2/p3pPPP/2knP3/1p1N4/3K4/8 b - - 0 40

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