Chess Puzzle #1Cn6d — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1203 · Intermediate · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; knights b1/f3; pawns b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/c8; bishop f6; knight d7; pawns a7/b3/d6/e5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen d2→a5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc2# — rook c8→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, queenside attack. The combination ends with Rxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/p2n2pp/3ppb2/q3p2P/4P3/1p1P1N2/1PPQ1PP1/1NKR3R w - - 0 17

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