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

Rating 868 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen g8; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knights c6/d7; pawns a7/b7/f4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg8 — rook e8→g8, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf7# — knight h6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1Qk/pp1n2pp/2n4N/2q5/5p2/2P5/PP2B1PP/R1B2R1K b - - 5 19

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