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

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight e6; pawns a3/b4/c2/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h6; queen e7; rooks b8/f8; knight c3; pawns a7/b6/c7/d4/f5/g5/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen f4→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight c3→e2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e2→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r2/p1p1q2p/1p2N2k/5pp1/1P1p1Q2/P1n3P1/1BP1PP1P/R4RK1 w - - 0 24

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