Chess Puzzle #1v4Vs — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 962 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c3; rooks d1/h1; bishop g3; knight e1; pawns a2/b2/d3/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks b8/h8; bishop a6; knight d4; pawns a7/c5/c6/e6/f7/g4/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc2 — knight e1→c2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/p3qp2/b1p1p2p/2p1P3/3n2pP/2QP2B1/PP3PP1/2KRN2R w k - 1 21

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