Chess Puzzle #16J2U — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1180 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops e2/e3; knights d4/e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/f8; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/b5/d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6# — knight e4→d6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/1b1pnppp/p1n1p3/1p2P3/3NN3/4B3/PPP1BPPP/R2QK2R b KQkq - 2 9

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