Chess Puzzle #21Up1 — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 809 · Beginner · mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/g2; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d2/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/d4/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (1 move)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd7 — bishop c8→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6# — knight b5→d6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 1, one move, opening, smothered mate. The combination ends with Nxd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqkb1r/pp2nppp/3p4/1N2p3/Q1PpP3/6P1/PP1P1PBP/R1B1K2R b KQkq - 1 9

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