Chess Puzzle #0Z9Az — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 925 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f7/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen g1; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights d7/h3; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg1 — rook f1→g1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf2# — knight h3→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/pp1n1Ppp/2p1B3/8/4P3/2N4n/PPP3PP/R1B2RqK w - - 6 18

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