Chess Puzzle #1LwPo — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight c7; pawns a3/b4/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king a7; queen b6; rooks d8/h8; knights d4/e5; pawns a6/b7/f6/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen c4→c3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxb6+ (bishop e3→b6, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxb6 — king a7→b6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/kpN3p1/pq3p2/4n2p/1PQn4/P3B3/2P2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 2 22

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