Chess Puzzle #2UD0E — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1074 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks a1/f1; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; knights d4/e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxf4 — knight e2→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp3ppp/1q2p3/3p4/3nnQ2/5N1P/PPPN1PP1/R4RK1 w kq - 0 14

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