Chess Puzzle #177CF — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 869 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks f1/f2; bishop e4; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g4/h4. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks e8/f8; knight d4; pawns a7/b6/e5/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf6 — rook f2→f6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Nxg3 — knight e2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4rr2/p1q2pk1/1p4pp/3Pp3/2PnB1PP/1P4Q1/P4R2/5RK1 w - - 3 35

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