Chess Puzzle #0G9WC — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 802 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f6; bishop c1; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishop c3; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  3. Best move: Nxg3 — knight e2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne2+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppq2ppp/2p2R2/4p3/2NnP3/2bP2Q1/PPP3PP/R1B3K1 w - - 0 16

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.