Chess Puzzle #0v9u6 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook f1; knight c5; pawns b4/d4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rook c8; knight f4; pawns b5/c3/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b3→c3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Ne2+.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5ppp/2q1p3/1pN5/1P1PPn2/1Qp5/5PPP/5RK1 w - - 1 29

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