Chess Puzzle #46jaF — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1100 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e3; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f5/g5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knight d4; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e7/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g5→h6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e1→d2).
  3. Best move: Nxe3 — knight c2→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/p3ppb1/1p1p3p/2p2PP1/3nP3/2NPQN2/PPP5/R3KB1R w KQ - 1 14

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