Chess Puzzle #1FYHz — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 950 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b3/c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g1; rooks a8/f8; bishops a6/g7; knight h3; pawns a7/c6/e7/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg1 — rook e1→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: r4rk1/p3ppb1/b1p1P1p1/7p/8/1BN4n/PPP3PP/R1BQR1qK w - - 5 18

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