Chess Puzzle #1eV8S — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 887 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate.

Position

White: king h1; queen c7; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c4; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen g1; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knights d7/e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxg1 — rook f1→g1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf2# — knight e4→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, middlegame, one move, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6r/ppQnkppp/8/2bp4/2B1n3/8/PPPP2PP/RNB2RqK w - - 7 14

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