Chess Puzzle #362P0 — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks b1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knights c3/c7; pawns c2/e2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knights b4/g8; pawns a7/b7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight b4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen d1→c2, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc2 — queen a2→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, short. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bk2nr/ppNp1ppp/8/2b1P3/1n6/2N5/q1PBPPPP/1R1QKB1R w K - 1 11

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