Chess Puzzle #2K9zI — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 907 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; pawns a2/b2/c5/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; knight d4; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen c2→c3. 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: r3k2r/4qp1p/p3p1p1/1pPpP3/3n1P2/8/PPQ3PP/R1B2RK1 w kq - 3 18

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