Chess Puzzle #2qd2r — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1049 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; bishop g3; pawns a2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/f8; knight f4; pawns a5/e5/f7/g4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen f3→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→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: r4rk1/5p2/8/p3pq2/5npP/5QB1/P4PP1/3R1RK1 w - - 0 29

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