Chess Puzzle #1PbBU — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 935 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks b1/d1; knight d6; pawns e3/f4/g5/h3. Black: king h8; queen a7; rooks a8/g8; bishop b2; knight d7; pawns a3/b4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: a2 — pawn a3→a2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf7# — knight d6→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/q2n1ppp/3Np3/6P1/1p3P2/p3PQ1P/1b6/1R1R2K1 b - - 1 31

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