Chess Puzzle #12sXx — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 992 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, pillsburys mate, pin.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks c1/h1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/f8; bishop b5; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/d6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc1# — rook c8→c1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, pillsburys mate, pin. The combination ends with Rxc1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp3ppp/3pp3/qb6/3Pn3/2N1PN2/PP1Q1PPP/2R1K2R w K - 3 16

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