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

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; knight c4; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c6; rook c8; bishop f4; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen c2→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight e4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king b1→b2).
3. Best move: Nxe2 — knight c3→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc3+.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/pp2k1pp/2q1p3/8/2NPnb2/1P6/P1Q2PPP/1K1R3R w - - 5 28

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