Figure 2.1.5.12[Black to move]

Here is another more complicated sequence; it will take a bit of patience to untangle. Black’s knight is on a dark square in White’s territory; also on dark squares are all of White’s most valuable pieces—king, queen, and both rooks. Start by just looking at each of the knight’s moves in search of potential forks. There are two: Ne2+, forking White’s king, queen, and rook; and Nd3, attacking both rooks. Now carefully identify what prevents either of those two moves. Ne2+ is stopped by one thing: the rook at e1 that protects the square. Nd3 is stopped by two things: The knight at f2 and queen at g3 that both protect the square. Take stock next of what resources Black can bring to bear against those guardians. White’s queen can be taken by Black’s queen. As for the knight at f2 and the rook at e1, neither of them can be captured by Black. So next consider whether they are guarding anything Black can attack, and they are: they both protect the knight at e4. Can Black attack that knight? Yes, twice: with the bishop at f5 and the queen behind it.

Now begin thinking about possible move orders and their consequences, always bearing in mind that you are hoping to free up either d3 or e2 for your knight. Try BxN. How will White respond? There are two possibilities if he chooses to recapture: NxB or RxB. If NxB, then one of the two guardians of d3 has been eliminated; only the queen remains, and it can then be taken with QxQ. After White then plays h2xQ, Black can play Nd3, forking the rooks. If White instead plays RxB, the rook still guards e2. But Black can attack it again; remember that when two pieces are lined up like the queen and bishop here, they attack e4 twice. So Black plays QxR, and after White replies with NxQ the e2 square is available for Ne2+, forking White’s king and queen. The conclusion: Black wins by starting with BxN, because any recapture White makes in response leads to a knight fork for Black.

This position is tricky because Black has two offensive options and White has choices to make as well in response to BxN. But a methodical examination of Black’s goals, the impediments to them, and White’s possible replies to Black’s captures nevertheless breaks it all down easily enough.