Chess Puzzle #zZb2b — Expert, Black to move, endgame

Position

White: king h4; knight c4; pawns e5/h5. Black: king h6; knight d5; pawns a4/f4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king h4→g4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne3+ — knight d5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe3 (knight c4→e3, captures knight).
3. Best move: fxe3 — pawn f4→e3, captures knight. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g4→f3).
4. Best move: Kxh5 — king h6→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies e6 (pawn e5→e6).
5. Best move: Kg6 — king h5→g6. Opponent replies e7 (pawn e6→e7).
6. Best move: Kf7 — king g6→f7. Opponent replies e8=Q+ (pawn e7→e8, promotes to queen, gives check).
7. Best move: Kxe8 — king f7→e8, captures queen. Opponent replies Kxe3 (king f3→e3, captures pawn).
8. Best move: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e3→d2).
9. Best move: a2 — pawn a3→a2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, knight endgame, very long. The key move is Ne3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/7k/3nP2P/p1N2p1K/8/8/8 w - - 0 44

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