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

Rating 1134 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d1/f1; bishop b2; knight e4; pawns a2/b3/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d8/f7; bishop e7; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd6 — pawn e5→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxg3+ — knight e2→g3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxg3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/ppq1brpp/3pp3/2p1P3/4Nn2/1P4Q1/PBP2PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 7 17

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