Chess Puzzle #sqVIO — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; knight d4; pawns e3/f2/g4/h4. Black: king c5; pawns a4/b4/c3/e4/f6/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (9 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Kc4 — king c5→c4. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c2→b1).
3. Best move: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h5→h6).
4. Best move: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Opponent replies h7 (pawn h6→h7).
5. Best move: c2+ — pawn c3→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc2 (knight d4→c2, captures pawn).
6. Best move: a2+ — pawn a3→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king b1→b2).
7. Best move: bxc2 — pawn b3→c2, captures knight. Opponent replies h8=Q (pawn h7→h8, promotes to queen).
8. Best move: a1=Q+ — pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc2 (king b2→c2, captures pawn).
9. Best move: Qa2+ — queen a1→a2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king c2→d1).
10. Best move: Qxf2 — queen a2→f2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, exposed king, knight endgame, master, promotion, skewer, very long. The key move is Kc4.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/5p2/2k5/pp1Np1PP/2p1P3/2K2P2/8 w - - 0 42

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