Chess Puzzle #3XPmf — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1184 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks a1/f1; knights d1/e4; pawns a3/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; knights d4/f6; pawns a6/c5/e6/e7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight d1→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4r2/2q1p1kp/p3pnp1/2p5/3nN3/P1QP4/2P2PPP/R2N1RK1 w - - 1 19

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