Chess Puzzle #2osuo — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knight f3; pawns e3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks c8/h8; bishops d7/e7; knight c3; pawns a5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen g4→g7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight c3→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Rf8 — rook h8→f8.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqk2r/3bbppp/4p3/p3P3/6Q1/2n1PN2/4BPPP/R1B2RK1 w k - 0 17

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