Chess Puzzle #05imK — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 908 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook d8; bishops b4/e2; knight e5; pawns b5/c4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e8; rook g8; bishop b7; knights e7/f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd8 — queen e8→d8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf7# — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3Rq1rk/pb2nppp/1p2pn2/1P2N3/1BP5/4P3/2Q1BPPP/6K1 b - - 5 21

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