Chess Puzzle #2Fu5F — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 928 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rook f1; bishop b3; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook a8; bishop b7; knight d4; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd1 — rook f1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxc1 — knight e2→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pb2qppp/1p2p3/8/N2nP3/1B3P2/PP4PP/2Q2RK1 w - - 1 19

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