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

Rating 937 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop g2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/e3/e4/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks d8/e8; knights c6/f4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc1 — queen d2→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Nxc1 — knight e2→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/ppp1qpp1/2n4p/4p3/4Pn1P/4PNP1/PP1Q1PB1/R4RK1 w - - 1 17

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