Chess Puzzle #CAAdw — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1407 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rooks a1/e7; bishop a6; knights e3/f3; pawns a2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks c8/f8; bishop g6; knight f4; pawns c5/f6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc8 — bishop a6→c8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxc1 — knight e2→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/4Rpp1/B4pbp/2p5/1q1P1n2/4NN2/P4PPP/R1Q3K1 w - - 0 21

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