Chess Puzzle #2HOC9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1020 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c3; rooks a1/h1; bishop g2; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen a3; rook d8; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/e6/g6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e1→g1. 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.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/ppp5/4pnpp/4p3/2PnP3/qPQ3P1/P4PBP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 17

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