Chess Puzzle #0MsmN — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks c1/e1; knights e5/g3; pawns a2/c6/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/e2; knight f4; pawns a6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5 — queen b6→c5, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe2 (knight g3→e2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight f4→e2, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5ppp/pqP5/2bPN3/Q3Pn2/6N1/P3bPPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 3 25

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