Chess Puzzle #2HT5f — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 978 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/f8; bishop f6; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/e6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Nxg3 — knight e2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3qrk1/ppp3p1/4pb2/4p2p/3nN3/P2P2QP/1PP2PP1/R1B2RK1 w - - 1 16

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