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

Position

White: king f4; knight h1; pawns a5/b4/c4/d5. Black: king h3; pawns b6/b7/c6/d6/g4/h2. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxa5 — pawn b6→a5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: bxa5 — pawn b4→a5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h3→g2).
4. Best move: Ng3 — knight h1→g3. Opponent replies h1=Q (pawn h2→h1, promotes to queen).
5. Best move: Nxh1 — knight g3→h1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, knight endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move dxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p6/1ppp4/P2P4/1PP2Kp1/7k/7p/7N b - - 0 49

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