Chess Puzzle #1X5WF — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 901 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/d1; bishop h6; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; bishop c3; knight g3; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen d2→c3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight g3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1ppq1p1p/p2p2pB/8/4P3/2b2PnP/PPPQ2P1/R2R2K1 w - - 0 18

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